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Is expiation (kaffarah) obligatory for someone who unintentionally hit a non-Muslim, causing his death, in an Islamic country?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Whoever kills a protected disbeliever must pay expiation and blood money, which is to be handed over to his family. The protected disbeliever is a dhimmi, a mu'ahid, or a musta'min. The proof for this is Allah's saying: (And it is not for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake. And whoever kills a believer by mistake – then freeing a believing slave and a compensation payment presented to his family, unless they give [up their right as] charity. But if he was from a people hostile to you and he was a believer – then freeing a believing slave. And if he was from a people with whom you have a treaty – then a compensation payment presented to his family and freeing a believing slave. And whoever does not find [the means to do so] – then a fast for two consecutive months as repentance to Allah. And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise) An-Nisa/92. This is the view held by the majority of scholars.

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

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