and set her free. This is possible. Yet, in the view of those who hold that an expiation cannot be divided, it is not possible, because the reality is that each of them has freed only half a slave, while each is a participant in the killing.

Thus, according to the established school, if a person participates even to the extent of one part in a hundred, he must offer an expiation. Hence, if one hundred people join in killing a person, they are each liable for an expiation—one hundred expiations in all.

There is another opinion reported from the companions of Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him: that they share one expiation.

In reality, it may be argued that this view is feasible with respect to manumission, but not with respect to fasting. For if one fasts a month and the other fasts a month, neither of them has fasted the two months required as expiation for killing.

As for manumission, one might argue that it is founded upon freeing a person and depends more upon wealth, unlike fasting, which is a purely physical act of worship.

In any case, the cautious position in this matter is that of the established school: each person is liable for an expiation, even if the participants are numerous.

The expiation is to free a slave; whoever cannot find one must fast for two consecutive months. Its evidence is the saying of Allah, Most High:

“It is not for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake. Whoever kills a believer by mistake must free a believing slave and pay blood-money to the family of the deceased, unless they remit it as charity. If the deceased was a believer from a people hostile to you, then the expiation is the freeing of a believing slave. And if he was from a people with whom you have a treaty, then blood-money must be paid to his family, along with the freeing of a believing slave. Whoever cannot find one must fast for two consecutive months, as repentance from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” [al-Nisa' 4:92]