As for expiation and compensation, these are required because they serve as restitution for what has been destroyed. They belong to the category of liability requiring an equivalent replacement for what has been destroyed: even if a child, an insane person, or a sleeping person destroyed it, they would still be liable to replace it. If compensation for killing game is required of someone who acted forgetfully or by mistake, it falls into this category, like the blood money payable for someone killed by mistake and the expiation required for killing that person by mistake, as established by the explicit text of the Quran and the consensus of the Muslims.

The other prohibited acts, however, do not fall into this category. Trimming the nails, clipping the moustache, and enjoying comforts incompatible with remaining unkempt are comparable to using perfume and wearing clothing. Thus, the compensation required for them is of the same kind as that required for other prohibited acts, unlike game, for which an equivalent replacement is due.

The strongest opinion concerning someone who commits a prohibited act forgetfully or by mistake is therefore that no compensation is required except for killing game. Scholars hold several opinions on this matter. This is one of them, and it is the position of the literalists.

The second is that compensation is required for all such acts, even when committed forgetfully. This is the position of Abū Hanīfah and one of the positions reported from Ahmad; it was preferred by al-Qādī and his followers.

The third distinguishes between acts involving destruction, such as killing game, shaving the hair, and trimming the nails, and acts involving no destruction, such as using perfume and wearing clothing. This is the position of al-Shāfiʿī and of Ahmad according to the second report from him, which a group of his followers preferred. This opinion is better than