وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ أَن يَقْتُلَ مُؤْمِنًا إِلَّا خَطَـًٔا ۚ وَمَن قَتَلَ مُؤْمِنًا خَطَـًٔا فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُّؤْمِنَةٍ وَدِيَةٌ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن يَصَّدَّقُوا۟ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوْمٍ عَدُوٍّ لَّكُمْ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُّؤْمِنَةٍ ۖ وَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوْمٍۭ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَـٰقٌ فَدِيَةٌ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ وَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُّؤْمِنَةٍ ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ تَوْبَةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا 92
Translations
And never is it for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake. And whoever kills a believer by mistake - then the freeing of a believing slave and a compensation payment [diyah] presented to his [i.e., the deceased's] family [is required], unless they give [up their right as] charity. But if he [i.e., the deceased] was from a people at war with you and he was a believer - then [only] the freeing of a believing slave; and if he was from a people with whom you have a treaty - then a compensation payment presented to his family and the freeing of a believing slave. And whoever does not find [one or cannot afford to buy one] - then [instead], a fast for two months consecutively, [seeking] acceptance of repentance from Allāh. And Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.
Transliteration
Wa mā kāna limu'minin an yaqtula mu'minan illā khataʾan. Wa man qatala mu'minan khataʾan fatharīru raqabatin mu'minatin wa diyyatun musallamatun ilā ahlih illā an yaṣṣaddaqū. Fa'in kāna min qawmin ʿaduwwin lakum wa huwa mu'min fatharīru raqabatin mu'minatin. Wa'in kāna min qawmin baynakum wa baynahum mīthāqun fadiyyatun musallamatun ilā ahlih wa tatharīru raqabatin mu'minatin. Faman lam yajid faṣiyāmu shahrayni mutatabāʿayni tawbatan min Allāh. Wa kāna Allāhu ʿalīman ḥakīman.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the rulings for unintentional homicide (qatl al-khataʾ) among believers, which is forbidden and requires expiation through freeing a believing slave and paying blood money (diyyah) to the victim's family. The ayah presents graduated consequences based on the victim's status: if the deceased was from an enemy nation but a believer, only freeing a slave is required; if from a covenant nation, both diyyah and freeing a slave are mandated. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ruling protects human life while providing a path to expiation, demonstrating Islam's balanced approach to justice and mercy.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period and addresses legal procedures in the Islamic state, following passages about inheritance and family rights. It responds to the reality of accidental deaths and establishes a systematic legal framework that prioritizes both justice for the deceased's family and rehabilitation of the one who caused the death. The graduated rulings reflect Islam's consideration of social and political relationships.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Whoever kills a believer unintentionally must free a believing slave and pay blood money to the family of the deceased' (authenticated in Sunan An-Nasai and related collections). Hadith in Sahih Bukhari describes the categories of killing (intentional, semi-intentional, and accidental) and their respective legal consequences.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that even unintentional harm to another requires serious expiation and accountability, reflecting Islam's emphasis on personal responsibility and the dignity of human life. For modern readers, it demonstrates that Islamic law balances justice with compassion, offering pathways for sincere repentance while maintaining safeguards for victims' families.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَـٰزَعْتُمْ فِى شَىْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا
O you who have believed, obey Allāh and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allāh and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِى ٱلدَّرْكِ ٱلْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا
Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire - and never will you find for them a helper -
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوٓا۟ أَن يَكْفُرُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَيُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلَـٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا
Have you not seen those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and what was revealed before you? They wish to refer legislation to ṭāghūt, while they were commanded to reject it; and Satan wishes to lead them far astray.
وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ فِى ٱبْتِغَآءِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ۖ إِن تَكُونُوا۟ تَأْلَمُونَ فَإِنَّهُمْ يَأْلَمُونَ كَمَا تَأْلَمُونَ ۖ وَتَرْجُونَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَرْجُونَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
And do not weaken in pursuit of the enemy. If you should be suffering - so are they suffering as you are suffering, but you expect from Allāh that which they expect not. And Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.