Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 92

(Ayah 92) ➊ { وَ مَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ اَنْ يَّقْتُلَ مُؤْمِنًا اِلَّا خَطَـًٔا:} When permission for fighting against the disbelievers was revealed, it was quite possible that someone might kill a Muslim, mistaking him for a combatant disbeliever (with whom there is war), and later it would be found out that he was a Muslim. Therefore, in this verse, Allah Almighty has stated the rulings regarding the accidental killing of a Muslim. (Razi) In the verse, {”اِلَّا“} means { ”لٰكِنْ“ }, and the exception is disconnected, meaning that in no case is it permissible to kill a Muslim, but if he is killed by mistake, then there is expiation for it, which is mentioned later. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The blood of a man who testifies that there is no god but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah is not lawful except in one of three cases: (1) Life for life. (2) A married adulterer. (3) One who leaves Islam (apostate) and separates from the community." [ بخاری، الدیات، باب قول اللہ تعالٰی : «أن النفس بالنفس والعین بالعین» : ۶۸۷۸، عن عبد اللہ رضی اللہ عنہ ]
➋ { وَ مَنْ قَتَلَ مُؤْمِنًا خَطَـًٔا فَتَحْرِيْرُ … :} That is, when a Muslim accidentally kills another Muslim, there are two rulings: one is expiation, the other is blood money (diyah). The expiation is that he must free a Muslim slave (male or female), and if he is unable to do so, then he must fast for two consecutive months, and pay blood money to the heirs. The expiation is never waived, but the blood money can be waived if the heirs forgive, but this is when the heirs of the slain are also Muslims, or they are disbelievers with whom there is a treaty, or they are dhimmis, as will be mentioned ahead.
➌ { فَاِنْ كَانَ مِنْ قَوْمٍ عَدُوٍّ لَّكُمْ … :} But if the heirs are combatant disbelievers, then only expiation is due on the killer, that is, to free a Muslim slave, and if that is not possible, then to fast for two consecutive months. There is no need to pay blood money to the heirs of the slain, because they are enemies. (Qurtubi)
➍ { وَ اِنْ كَانَ مِنْ قَوْمٍۭ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَهُمْ مِّيْثَاقٌ …:} The meaning of this sentence is that if the slain Muslim belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty, or they are dhimmis, then in this case also two things are obligatory: blood money (diyah) and expiation. Here, blood money is mentioned before expiation so that there is no negligence in paying it, considering him a member of a non-Muslim community. Some have written that it means if the slain is a treaty-holder or dhimmi (not a Muslim), then in this case also expiation and blood money must be paid to the heirs, but the more authentic view seems to be that here too the discussion is about a slain Muslim. The blood money will be one hundred camels or its equivalent value, which will vary according to the nature of the mistake.
➎ { شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ:} If anyone misses even one fast without a valid Shar‘i excuse, such as illness, menstruation, postnatal bleeding, etc., then he will have to start the two months of fasting anew. (Qurtubi)