"{And it is not for a believer}" means: it does not behoove a believer {to kill a believer except by mistake}, meaning unless he does not intend his killing. {And whoever kills a believer by mistake, then the freeing of a believing slave and a compensation (diya) delivered to his family}, meaning: the family of the slain, {unless they remit [it]}, meaning: unless the family of the slain remit it; thus they forgo the compensation. {But if he was from a people who are at war with you and he is a believer}, Al-Hasan said: A man would embrace Islam while his people were at war [with the Muslims], and a man from the Muslims would kill him by mistake—so for that there is the freeing of a believing slave [and no compensation] for his people. {And if he was from a people between whom and you is a covenant, then a compensation delivered to his family and the freeing of a believing slave}, regarding whatever covenant existed between the Muslims and the polytheists, or the People of the Covenant (Ahl al-Dhimma); if one of them was killed, then for that there is the compensation for his guardians, and the manumission of a believing slave. {And whoever does not find [the means], then a fast of two consecutive months, as a repentance from Allah}, meaning as a pardon from Allah.
Muhammad said: {A repentance from Allah}, the reading is with the fatha; the meaning: Allah ordained that as a repentance from Him.
﴿وَمَا كَانَ لمُؤْمِن﴾ يَعْنِي: لَا يَنْبَغِي لمُؤْمِن ﴿أَنْ يقتل مُؤمنا إِلَّا خطئا﴾ أَي إِلَّا أَن يكون لَا يتَعَمَّد لقَتله. ﴿وَمَنْ قَتَلَ مُؤْمِنًا خطئا فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُؤْمِنَةٍ وَدِيَةٌ مُسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَى أَهله﴾ يَعْنِي: أهل الْقَتِيل ﴿إِلا أَنْ يصدقُوا﴾ يَعْنِي: إِلَّا أَن يصدق أهل الْقَتِيل؛ فيتجاوزوا عَنِ الدِّيَة. ﴿فَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ قَوْمٍ عَدُوٍّ لَكُمْ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ﴾ قَالَ الْحسن: كَانَ الرجل يسلم وَقَومه حَرْب، فيقتله رجل من الْمُسلمين خطأ - فَفِيهِ تَحْرِير رَقَبَة مُؤمنَة [وَلَا دِيَة] لِقَوْمِهِ. ﴿وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ مِيثَاقٌ فَدِيَةٌ مُسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ وتحرير رَقَبَة مُؤمنَة﴾ مَا كَانَ من عهد بَين الْمُسلمين وَبَين الْمُشْركين، أَو أهل الذِّمَّة؛ فَقتل رجل مِنْهُم - فَفِيهِ الدِّيَة لأوليائه، وَعتق رَقَبَة مُؤمنَة. ﴿فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابعين تَوْبَة من الله﴾ تجاوزا من الله.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: ﴿تَوْبَة من الله﴾ الْقِرَاءَة بِالْفَتْح؛ الْمَعْنى: فعل الله ذَلِك تَوْبَة مِنْهُ.
