Question:
Assalamu ‘alaykum. On a few occasions I, as a doctor, have handled cases where patients have died. I am worried that I did not do everything I could, so I may have accidentally caused their death. Do I have to perform a kaffara? Also, I broke some fasts as a teenager. Do I have to perform a kaffara? Can I combine the two?
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
Accidental Deaths
Do not worry; you have not accidentally killed those people, so you do not have to perform a kaffara. Accidentally killing someone would be like when someone aims to shoot an animal when hunting, but misses, and the arrow hits and kills a person. [Maydani, al Lubab]
Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, people do not act as they might in a calmer situation. This is what seems to have happened in the situations you described.
Do your job diligently, seeking Allah’s pleasure and expecting a great reward. Every life you save will a source of many delights for you on the Day of Judgement: “Whoever gives life to [a soul] it is as though he has given life to all humanity.” (Qur’an, 5:32)
Expiation For Boken Fasts
Yes, you need to perform one expiation for the fasts you broke. Simply tell your husband that you broke a fast as a teen, and you need to make it up. Winter is a perfect time as the days are short. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al Falah]
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani