Another reason why Muslims fast is found in Qur’an 4:92, as Allah stated: “And it was not for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake. And whoever kills a believer by mistake so freeing a believer’s neck [from slavery], and the blood-money will be paid to the family of the slain unless they give it as alms. So if the [killed] believer was from an enemy people to you, so freeing a believer’s neck. And if he was from a people between you and them a covenant, so blood-money is to be paid to his family, and freeing a believer’s neck. So who has not the means so fasting two consecutive months’ penance from Allah. And Allah was knowing, wise.”
From this verse we learn several things. First, Muslims can have slaves who are believers, and second, it is forbidden for Muslims to kill other Muslims. Third, if a Muslim kills another Muslim by accident, he must free one of the Muslim slaves and also pay money to the dead man’s family. Fourth, if the Muslim man who was killed was an enemy, the Muslim who committed the murder must free a Muslim believer’s slave. Fifth, if the Muslim man who was killed belonged to a people with whom the Muslims had a covenant, the killer must give a ransom to his family and free a believer’s slave’s neck. Now what if the Muslim killer did not have a Muslim slave? That is when he must fast two consecutive mont ...
