he has incurred, and if he is unable to free a slave he must move to the second option, which is to fast two consecutive months. There is no third alternative: feeding the poor is not mentioned in the expiation for killing at all; it is legislated only for the expiation of ẓihār and for the expiation of intercourse during the daytime in Ramadan.

Thus, for killing there are only two acts, in the stated order: first, manumission; second, fasting.

Accordingly, dear questioner, one of these two obligations rests upon you: either freeing a slave if you can afford it, or fasting two consecutive months. If, as you say, you are unable to fast because you must keep working and depend on that work for your livelihood, this does not absolve you of the fast. Rather, it remains a debt upon you until you find an opportunity in which you are able to observe it—such as during the winter months when you can more easily combine fasting with work. Postpone the fast until then and perform it. This is a duty upon you: just as you fast Ramadan while working, you must also fast the expiation while working, for both fasts are legally obligatory. Therefore you must fast even if that involves some tolerable hardship. If the hardship truly becomes intolerable, you may delay the fast until a later time as noted. In every case, fasting is indispensable; feeding the poor does not fulfil the expiation for killing.