Fatwas / Islamic Politics / His wife died in a car accident involving a car which he was driving. Is anything due
Question
Dear respected Shaykh, assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Someone’s wife died because of an accident. The person was driving the car and his wife was with him. Suddenly a camel crossed the road and the person could not avoid it and he hit it. As a result his wife died. Some people gave the person a fatwa that he must fast for two months because he caused the death of his wife. Is this correct? ماتت زوجته في حادث سيارة كان يقودها زوجها فهل عليه شيء؟
Answer
Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and his companions. Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As to what follows: In response to your question, we say: If the driver did not contravene any traffic rules in terms of speeding or the car’s roadworthiness, and if the camel suddenly came on the road, and he swerved the car to protect the lives of the passengers, then nothing is due from him. He should neither pay the blood money nor expiate according to the preponderant opinion of the scholars.
Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and his companions. Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As to what follows: In response to your question, we say: If the driver did not contravene any traffic rules in terms of speeding or the car’s roadworthiness, and if the camel suddenly came on the road, and he swerved the car to protect the lives of the passengers, then nothing is due from him. He should neither pay the blood money nor expiate according to the preponderant opinion of the scholars.
