Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

IF A MOTORIST HIT THREE (3) PEOPLE AND DIED INSTANTLY; WILL HE FAST FOR THE THREE (3) SOULS OR HE CAN ONLY FAST THE 60 DAYS?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Atonement kaffarah for killing three people

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 92:

92 Never should a believer kill a believer; but (if it so happens) by mistake (compensation is due): if one (so) kills a believer it is ordained that he should free a believing slave and pay compensation to the deceased's family unless they remit it freely. ….. For those who find this beyond their means (is prescribed) a fast for two months consecutive by way of repentance to Allah: for Allah Has All Knowledge and All Wisdom.

If one has unintentionally killed three people in an accident, then one would indeed be required to fulfill the atonement prescribed in Shariah for the three souls separately, by paying the appropriate compensation or ‘blood-money’ to the surviving heirs of each of the three deceased, and either freeing a slave for each of the three deceased or fasting two consecutive months for each of the three deceased.

The fasting of the two consecutive months as atonement for unintentionally killing the three people may be done at three separate occasions of two consecutive months each, or six months in a row…..whichever is convenient.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan