وَمَن قَتَلَ مُؤۡمِنًا خَطَـًٔا فَتَحۡرِيرُ رَقَبَةٖ مُّؤۡمِنَةٖ وَدِيَةٞ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦٓ
Verse: "And whoever kills a believer by mistake — the freeing of a believing slave...if he is from a people at war with you and he is a believer, then freeing a believing slave." (4:92)
Occasion (Hasan): Ibn Abi Hatim and Al-Wahidi narrated from Ibn Abbas: A Muslim man encountered a polytheist man herding sheep. The man said: "There is no god but Allah." The Muslim killed him and took his sheep, assuming he was saying it to protect himself. Allah revealed this verse clarifying the ruling on accidental killing of a believer.
Reliability: Hasan — narrated by Al-Wahidi in Asbab Al-Nuzul (p. 169) and Ibn Abi Hatim in his commentary.
Lesson:
- The expiation: freeing a slave + blood money to his believing family if he was in the land of Islam
- If the believer was in enemy ranks: freeing a slave only, no blood money — because his family is in enemy territory
- Islam considers the inner faith, not just the outer — verification is obligatory before combat
Question: What is the difference in ruling between accidentally killing a believer among Muslims versus in enemy ranks?
Answer: Among Muslims: freeing a slave plus blood money to his family. In enemy ranks: freeing a slave only without blood money, because his family is in enemy territory and blood money cannot reach them.