The Ruling on One Who Died from an Electrical Short Circuit

Question:
The listener, Abdulwahhab Khalid al-Halibi—apparently from King Faisal University in al-Ahsa—sent a message saying: I have an uncle who is skilled in some tasks other than his specialized work. One day, a neighbor asked him to work in his house to wire some electrical work. He died in an electrical short circuit accident. A person told me about the incident and said: When the current shorted out, your uncle asked the homeowner to turn off the power, but the homeowner could not turn it off because he was stunned by the scene. Does the homeowner owe an expiation? Is the incident considered intentional killing? Is the deceased considered a martyr?

Answer:
If the situation is as the questioner described, then martyrdom is hoped for him. It is not intentional killing, and neither of them owes anything, because neither of them intended it. We ask Allah for safety. Yes.

The presenter : O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.