Is atonement (Kaffarah) obligatory upon one who kills himself accidentally?
Chapter on Qasamah (Oaths regarding murder)
Al-Mughni
Book of Blood-Money (Diyyāt)
Primary text
Atonement (Kaffarah) is obligatory upon the estate of one who kills himself accidentally. This is the position held by Al-Shafi'i. The evidence for this is the general statement of the Almighty: "And whoever kills a believer accidentally, then [as atonement] the freeing of a believing slave..." (Quran 4:92). Furthermore, it is a believing human being killed accidentally, so atonement becomes obligatory upon the killer, just as if someone else had killed him.
Supporting text
Abu Hanifa holds that atonement is not obligatory because liability for one's own life is not established, just as in the case of killing the women and children of people at war. Furthermore, the report concerning 'Amir ibn al-Akwa', who killed himself accidentally, shows that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not command any atonement in his case. The ruling concerning the verse "And whoever kills a believer accidentally" (Quran 4:92) is only intended for when another person commits the killing, as evidenced by the subsequent phrase "and a prescribed blood money (Diyya) delivered to his family," since there is no blood money due for one who kills himself, as shown by the case of 'Amir ibn al-Akwa'.