Q: In the year 1370 A.H. A person shot his gun and killed another man wrongfully, and he did not expiate for it. Now he can't afford emancipating a believing slave nor can he fast due to suffering from a gastric ulcer. He asks about the consequences?

A: Whoever kills an inviolable soul by mistake, should offer a Kaffarah (expiation), i.e. emancipating a believing slave. Whoever cannot afford this, must fast for two consecutive months. Allah (Exalted be He) says: ...and whosoever kills a believer by mistake, (it is ordained that) he must set free a believing slave and a compensation (blood-money, i.e. Diya) be given to the deceased’s family, unless they remit it. ... And whoso finds this (the penance of freeing a slave) beyond his means, he must fast for two consecutive months in order to seek repentance from Allâh. Since the inquirer mentions that (Part No. 21; Page No. 292) the person who killed cannot afford the emancipation of a slave nor can he fast due to suffering from a gastric ulcer, then the Kaffarah (expiation) remains due on him to pay once he can afford it. Yet if he dies before having the ability, either to emancipate a believing slave or to fast, then this is beyond his ability and "Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope."May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, his family and Companions!