The Effect of Executing the Punishment on the Murderer in the Expiation of His Sin

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, if a Muslim kills someone and the hudud (fixed Qur'anic punishments) is carried out against him, is that an expiation for his sin, meaning the sin of killing, even if the killer did not call upon Allah for repentance?

Answer:
There is no doubt that Allah accepts repentance from His servants, even from the disbeliever and the one who associates partners with Allah; if he repents, Allah accepts his repentance. But if he dies without repenting from the killing, is he subject to Allah’s will like the other major sinners, such that Allah may punish Him if He wills or forgive him if He wills, or is it necessary that He punish him? This is the basis of the disagreement between the majority and Ibn Abbas. Ibn Abbas says it is necessary that Allah punish him. The majority say it is subject to Allah’s will, like the other sinners among the monotheists: if Allah wills, He punishes him, and if He wills, He forgives him. As for repentance, if one repents, Allah accepts the repentance even from disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah). Yes.