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Is the death of a girl over ten years old due to an electrical shock considered accidental killing if her mother had warned her about the danger of the exposed electrical outlet, and is the mother required to fast for two consecutive months?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Atonement for killing is only required of one who accidentally kills another, either directly or by causing the death, such as someone who digs a pit in the path of people. As for the one who digs a well on his property or in unowned land, there is no liability on him if a person dies in it, provided that person entered without his permission, or entered with his permission and the well was visible and the entrant had eyesight. This is based on the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saying: "The well is jubar (meaning, its harm is not subject to compensation)."

Based on this, if the electrical outlet was exposed in a normal manner and posed no danger to passersby, and its wires were not protruding or catching anyone, then the mother bears no responsibility for her daughter's death. This is because the existence of such exposed outlets is a common occurrence, and safety is generally expected from them, especially if it was elevated. Likewise, the girl, at ten years old, is discerning and understanding, and her mother had warned her. Therefore, her death is not considered a lapse on the mother's part. What happened is a matter of divine decree and fate, and the mother is not the cause of it.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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