The Ruling on Fasting the Expiation for Unintentional Killing Alongside Ramadan

Question:
The listener Abdulrahman Saleh from al-Madinah al-Munawwarah sent a question, saying: Is it valid for me to enter the month of Ramadan so that it counts as one of the two months for the expiation of unintentional killing? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
That is not valid. The two months are other than Ramadan; the two months for the expiation are other than Ramadan. If a person owes the expiation for unintentional killing, or for zihar, or for intercourse during Ramadan, he must fast two consecutive months other than Ramadan. Ramadan is an independent obligation that Allah has made obligatory upon the servants, and it is one of the pillars of Islam. As for the expiation, it is two independent months in the case of unintentional killing, and in the case of a man committing zihar with his wife by declaring her forbidden to him, if he cannot free a slave, he must fast two consecutive months if he is able to do so. Likewise, the one who has intercourse during Ramadan is obligated to perform the expiation if he is a resident and not a traveler. The expiation is freeing a slave, as in the case of zihar. If he does not find one, he must fast two consecutive months if he is able to do so. If he is unable to do so, he must feed sixty poor people. Yes.

The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.