and he also commits various sinful acts. So is my severing ties with him unlawful, or what exactly is the meaning of this ḥadīth?

Answer: It is not permissible to boycott a believer for more than three days when the reason concerns some worldly affair. Rather, he must make amends with his brother and greet him when they meet. In fact, from the very beginning it is improper to boycott a fellow Muslim over worldly matters, but if estrangement does occur it may not exceed three days. This is the purport of the Prophet’s statement, “It is not lawful for a Muslim to shun his brother for more than three days,” meaning when the boycott arises from a worldly issue.

If, however, the boycott is due to a sin the person is committing—one of the major sins—and he does not abandon it, he must first be advised and reminded to fear Allah. Should he persist in the sin and fail to repent, he may then be boycotted, for the boycott serves as a form of disciplinary censure that might prompt him to repent. The exception is when such a boycott is likely to worsen the sin or produce an even greater harm; in that case, boycotting him is impermissible. In short, boycotting a sinner is only allowed when it brings about a benefit and does not lead to a greater harm. And Allah is the granter of success.

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Accidental Killing

Question: I have learned that the expiation for accidental killing is to fast two consecutive months. About two years ago I ran over a pedestrian with my car, and the person died as a result.