What is the ruling of Sharia concerning one who informed a woman that a man had died, then learned of the possibility that the news caused her miscarriage, while being ignorant of the truthfulness of the informant and the time of the miscarriage, and being unable to communicate with the concerned parties to ascertain the truth?

A Muslim must guard his tongue, for it is stated in the Hadith that a servant may utter a word that displeases Allah, paying it no mind, yet it casts him into Hell. Lying is to inform about something contrary to its reality, knowingly and intentionally.

Scholars have affirmed the possibility of death occurring due to fright, such as when someone brandishes a sword or dangles a person from a height, causing them to die from terror, or shouts suddenly in someone's face, leading to death, or throws a snake at a person, causing them to die from fear.

If it is medically proven that the false news you conveyed to the woman caused her miscarriage, then you are liable for the consequences. If the miscarriage occurred before the formation of the fetus (nutfah), then you are only obligated to repent. If it occurred after the formation (after forty days), then you owe a ghura (a male or female slave). If you cannot find one, then you owe a tenth of the mother's blood money. Scholars differed regarding the obligation of fasting for two consecutive months.

You must strive to ascertain the truth of the matter. If you find no means to do so, we do not deem it necessary for you to pay the ghura or perform expiation, as the situation might be otherwise than stated.