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What is the ruling of the Shari'ah concerning someone who fasted two consecutive months as an expiation for a car accident that led to the death of two people, and two months of fasting still remain, but he is unable to complete them? Is it permissible for him to feed 60 needy people? And how is this feeding to be done?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

"Whoever was a partner in accidental killing is liable for the blood money in proportion to his share of the error, and he must offer the full expiation because it is indivisible. If he is unable to perform the expiation, and this inability is not expected to cease, the majority of scholars believe that he is not obligated to feed the poor because it is not mentioned in the Qur'an. However, some Shafi'is and Hanbalis believe in the obligation to feed sixty poor people, by analogy with the expiation for ẓihār (a form of divorce) and fasting. If the inability to fast is expected to cease, it can be delayed until one is able. If the inability is not expected to cease, it is safer to feed the poor according to those who hold this view. If you are not unable, then feeding is not permissible."

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

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