The expiation for your wife's death depends on your condition regarding your car
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Question: Allah the Exalted caused a car accident to happen to me in a car I was driving myself, and my family was with me in this car. My wife passed away as a result of the car accident, and I suffered severe fractures. I ask you to issue a ruling: Do I owe an expiation—fasting, charity, or otherwise—on account of my wife's death in this accident?
Answer: If you did not neglect your driving, nor any of the requirements of your car, and the accident happened while the condition of your car and your health was normal, then you owe nothing; because it has not been established that you caused the accident.
As for the case where the reality was that it resulted from one of the things mentioned, then you owe an expiation, which is: freeing a believing slave. If you cannot find one, then fasting two consecutive months; based on His saying :[An-Nisa 4:92] up to His saying: [al-Nisa: 92], and feeding people does not suffice for this. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our master Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Answer: If you did not neglect your driving, nor any of the requirements of your car, and the accident happened while the condition of your car and your health was normal, then you owe nothing; because it has not been established that you caused the accident.
As for the case where the reality was that it resulted from one of the things mentioned, then you owe an expiation, which is: freeing a believing slave. If you cannot find one, then fasting two consecutive months; based on His saying :
And never is it for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake. And whoever kills a believer by mistake - then the freeing of a believing slave and a compensation payment presented to the deceased's family [is required] unless they give [up their right as] charity
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ أَن يَقْتُلَ مُؤْمِنًا إِلاَّ خَطَئًا وَمَن قَتَلَ مُؤْمِنًا خَطَئًا فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُّؤْمِنَةٍ وَدِيَةٌ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ إِلاَّ أَن يَصَّدَّقُواْAnd whoever does not find [one or cannot afford to buy one] - then [instead], a fast for two months consecutively, [seeking] acceptance of repentance from Allah. And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.
فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ تَوْبَةً مِّنَ اللّهِ وَكَانَ اللّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.