Killing a soul by mistake, not expiating it at the time, and now being unable to do so: what should he do?
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Fatwa number ( 1133 )
Q: A Muslim has the expiation for killing upon him, and the scholars have made it obligatory for him to fast two consecutive months. He says that he is unable to continue fasting , and that it is very difficult for him, as he is constantly engaged in military work. Is it permissible for him to switch from fasting to feeding people given his circumstances?
A: One who kills a believer by mistake must free a believing slave. If he does not find one, he must fast two consecutive months. If he is unable to do so, he is excused and forgiven until he finds a slave or is able to fast on some day in the future. If he dies and it does not become easy for him to do so, he is forgiven, if Allah wills. It is not permissible to switch from fasting to feeding people according to the correct view, because Allah did not mention it in the expiation for
accidental killing, as He mentioned it in other types of expiations. And your Lord is not forgetful. It is not valid to analogize some expiations to others, because they are matters of worship based on definitive texts that rely on explicit texts. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: A Muslim has the expiation for killing upon him, and the scholars have made it obligatory for him to fast two consecutive months. He says that he is unable to continue fasting , and that it is very difficult for him, as he is constantly engaged in military work. Is it permissible for him to switch from fasting to feeding people given his circumstances?
A: One who kills a believer by mistake must free a believing slave. If he does not find one, he must fast two consecutive months. If he is unable to do so, he is excused and forgiven until he finds a slave or is able to fast on some day in the future. If he dies and it does not become easy for him to do so, he is forgiven, if Allah wills. It is not permissible to switch from fasting to feeding people according to the correct view, because Allah did not mention it in the expiation for
accidental killing, as He mentioned it in other types of expiations. And your Lord is not forgetful. It is not valid to analogize some expiations to others, because they are matters of worship based on definitive texts that rely on explicit texts. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.