What is the expiation for accidental killing?

Question:
The questioner says: If a person owes the expiation for accidental killing, does he start from the beginning of the month, or must he count sixty days? And if he breaks his fast for a day out of forgetfulness, does he have to start over from the beginning? Please inform us; may Allah reward you.

Answer:
He has two options: either he fasts according to the sighting of the crescent moon, if he sees the crescent, he fasts according to the crescent, and there is no harm in that. As for if he does not see the crescent, he fasts by counting; he fasts sixty days by counting. Allah the Exalted said: “But if it is cloudy for you, then complete the month as thirty days.” So if he sees the crescent himself, he fasts according to the crescent, and there is no harm in that. And if he does not see the crescent, which is the common case for people, he fasts by counting sixty days because he did not see the crescent. And if he forgets and breaks his fast for a day, forgetting the fast, he is excused for the forgetfulness; he builds upon the past fasting, completes it, and is excused for the forgetfulness. Yes, and he does not break the continuity; forgetfulness does not break the continuity. Yes.