It is not for a believer to slay a believer, except by mistake. He who slays a believer by mistake, then let him set free a believing slave, and blood- money is to be submitted to his family, unless they remit it as a charity. If he belongs to a people at war with you and is a believer, then the setting free of a believing slave. If he belongs to a people between whom and you there is a covenant, then the blood-money must be paid to his family, and the setting free of a believing slave. But if he has not the wherewithal, then the fasting of
two successive months, a relenting from God. And God is ever Knowing, Wise.
[God] mitigated the matter of someone who mistakenly [slays a believer] by giving the burden of restitution to the larger group responsible for the blood-money (ʿāqila). The elite are responsible for the blood-money for the weak and oppressed (mustaḌʿafūn) in the community. The people of deeper knowledge (ahl al-maʿrifa) are responsible for the blood-money for the aspirants (murīdūn). The shaykhs are responsible for the blood-money for the poor (fuqarāÌ). Their way is to bear the burdens that afflict the weak and oppressed.