What is the prescribed expiation (kaffarah) for causing the death of a fetus accidentally?
Chapter on Qasamah (Oaths regarding murder)
Al-Mughni
Book of Blood-Money (Diyyāt)
Primary text
If the act was accidental and resulted in a miscarriage (fetal death), the killer owes the freeing of a believing slave ('raqaba mu'mina'). If a slave cannot be found, two consecutive months of fasting is required as repentance to Allah.
Supporting text
Another narration from Abu Abdullah states that intentional homicide requires freeing a believing slave as the fundamental expiation for killing, based on the verse: 'And whoever kills a believer intentionally, then the recompense is Hell, to abide therein forever, and Allah has inflicted His wrath upon him, and cursed him, and has prepared for him a great punishment' (Quran 4:93) [Note: The text incorrectly cites Quran 4:92 in the context of intentional killing's kaffarah while listing the penalty for accidental killing's evidence which is Quran 4:92: 'And whoever kills a believer by mistake, then [as an expiation] the freeing of a believing slave and a compensation payment presented to his family unless they remit it as charity.' The text provided the citation for accidental killing when discussing the source for kaffarah]. The established ruling based on Quran 4:92 mandates freeing a believing slave for accidental killing.