Accidental Killing (Qatl Khata): Blood Money (Diyah) and Expiation (Kaffarah)
By: Imran Ayub Lahori
◈ Definition of Qatl Khata
In accidental killing, both diyah (blood money) and kaffarah (expiation) are obligatory. It refers to cases where killing occurs without intent, or when the killer is a child or insane person.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَمَن قَتَلَ مُؤْمِنًا خَطَأً فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُّؤْمِنَةٍ وَدِيَةٌ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ﴾ [النساء: 92]
“Whoever kills a believer by mistake, then freeing a believing slave is required, and compensation (diyah) must be handed over to the heirs of the slain.”
The kaffarah is:
- Freeing a believing slave.
- If unable, fasting two consecutive months.
◈ Hadith on Diyah for Accidental Killing
Narrated from Ibn Masʿud (RA):
فى دية الخطاء عشرون حقة …
“In the diyah of accidental killing, five types of camels were taken…”
- 20 camels (3 years old)
- 20 camels (4 years old)
- 20 she-camels (2 years old)
- 20 she-camels (1 year old)
- 20 male camels (1 year old)
[Weak: Abu Dawud 984, 4545; Bayhaqi 1386; Nasa’i 8/43; Ibn Majah 2631; Ahmad 1/784; Bazzar 1922; Dar Qutni 3/173; Ibn Abi Shaybah 9/133]
Many scholars—including Ibn Masʿud (RA), Imam al-Zuhri, Imam ʿIkrimah, Imam al-Layth, Imam al-Thawri, ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAziz, Sulayman ibn Yasār, Imam Malik, Hanafi and Shafiʿi jurists—hold this view. Only Imam Abu Hanifah differed, stating the last group should be 20 two-year-old male camels.
[al-Umm 6/113; al-Ikhtiyar 5/35; al-Mughni 12/15; Bidayat al-Mujtahid 2/410; Nayl al-Awtar 4/521; Subul al-Salam 3/1607; al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu 7/5735]
ʿUthman ibn ʿAffan (RA) and Zayd ibn Thabit (RA) held:
- 30 camels (4 years old)
- 30 camels (3 years old)
- 20 male camels (1 year old)
- 20 she-camels (2 years old)
[Nayl al-Awtar 4/521]
Stronger opinion (Rajih): The narration from Ibn Masʿud is weak, so any 100 camels may be given. Proof:
Narrated from ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAmr (RA):
ألا إن دية الخطأ وشبه العمد ما كان بالسوط والعصا مائة من الإبل منها أربعون فى بطونها أولادها
“The diyah of accidental killing and quasi-intentional killing (caused by whips or sticks) is 100 camels, of which 40 are pregnant she-camels.”
[Hasan: Sahih Abu Dawud 3807, 4547; Nasa’i 8/40; Ibn Majah 2627; Ibn Hibban 13/6011; Bayhaqi 8/68]
◈ Exemption for Children, Insane, and Sleeping Persons
From ʿAli (RA):
رفع القلم عن ثلاثة عن النائم حتى يستيقظ وعن الصبي حتى يحتلم وعن المجنون حتى يعقل
“The Pen is lifted from three: the sleeping until he awakes, the child until he reaches puberty, and the insane until he regains sanity.”
[Sahih: Abu Dawud 3703, 4403]
Imam Malik (RH):
Consensus that children are not liable for qisas; their deliberate killing is treated as accidental until they reach maturity.
[al-Muwatta with al-Musawwa 2/240]
◈ Diyah Paid by Relatives (ʿAqilah)
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (RA): Two women of the tribe of Huzayl fought; one struck the other with a stone, killing her and her unborn child. The heirs brought the case to the Prophet ﷺ, who ruled:
- Compensation for the unborn child: slave or slave-girl.
- وقـضـى بـديـة الـمـرأة على عاقلتها
“And he made the diyah of the woman upon her ʿaqilah (male relatives).”
[Bukhari 6909–6910; Muslim 1681; Tuhfat al-Ashraf 11/52]
Another report:
فجعل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم دية المقتولة على عاقلة القاتلة وبرأ زوجها وولدها
“The Prophet ﷺ placed the diyah of the slain upon the killer’s relatives, and absolved her husband and children.”
[Sahih: Ibn Majah 2143, 2248; Abu Dawud 4575]
Conclusion: All relatives (ʿasabah) share the obligation of diyah—except the killer’s spouse and children, who are exempt.
[al-Mughni 7/770]
◈ Objections & Responses
Some opposed this ruling, citing:
① ﴿وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ﴾ [al-Anʿam: 164]
“No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another.”
② لا يجنى جان إلا على نفسه
“No sinner is accountable for anyone except himself.”
[Hasan: Tirmidhi 3087, Tafsir of Surah al-Tawbah]
Answer:
- Diyah rulings are a special case.
- These verses/hadith refer to afterlife accountability, while diyah is a worldly responsibility.
[al-Rawdah al-Nadiyyah 2/654; Subul al-Salam 3/1590]
ʿAsabah relatives: all male agnates excluding children, spouses, and dhawi al-arham.
[Badaʾiʿ al-Sanaʾiʿ 10/4666; al-Mughni 12/39; Nayl al-Awtar 4/514]
