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Necessity (Islamic Concept)

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Necessity (Islamic Concept)

الضرورة

The Islamic concept of *al-ḍarūrah* (necessity) is a profound principle reflecting Allah’s mercy and ease within the religion. It articulates that under extreme, life-threatening circumstances, certain prohibitions can be temporarily overridden to preserve life or avert severe harm. This isn't a license for casual transgression, but a compassionate provision for genuine distress. A primary example is found concerning forbidden foods: the Quran explicitly states, "He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine... But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful" [2:173]. This is reinforced by other verses, such as, "But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful" [5:3]. The wisdom behind *al-ḍarūrah* ensures that divine commands, while sacred, never become an unbearable burden that endangers a person’s existence. Allah has explained "what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled" [6:119]. This principle underlines Islam's practical wisdom, prioritizing human well-being and acknowledging the realities of human struggle, always within a framework of sincerity and limits.

Quran 7 verses

إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَيْتَةَ وَٱلدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ ٱلْخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ بِهِۦ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Innamaa harrama 'alaikumul maitata waddama wa lahmal khinzeeri wa maaa uhilla bihee lighairil laahi famanid turra ghaira baaghinw wa laa 'aadin falaaa isma 'alaih; innal laaha Ghafoorur Raheem

He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

اس نے تم پر مرا ہوا جانور اور لہو اور سور کا گوشت اور جس چیز پر خدا کے سوا کسی اور کا نام پکارا جائے حرام کردیا ہے ہاں جو ناچار ہوجائے (بشرطیکہ) خدا کی نافرمانی نہ کرے اور حد (ضرورت) سے باہر نہ نکل جائے اس پر کچھ گناہ نہیں۔ بےشک خدا بخشنے والا (اور) رحم کرنے والا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The wordإِنَّمَا حَرَّ‌مَ (innama harrama) is a restrictive particle, therefore, the sense of the verse is that Allah Almighty has forbidden only those things which have been mentioned later, other than which, nothing else is forbidden. So, in this verse, it is the word, innama إِنَّمَا which points...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: He has only forbidden you carrion that is the consumption of it since this is the subject of the general address here and similarly the consumption of what follows all of which is what has not been slaughtered in accordance with prescriptions of the Law; to this the Sunna adds as also constituting c...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Command to eat Pure Things and the Explanation of the Prohibited Things Allah commands His believing servants to eat from the pure things that He has created for them and to thank Him for it, if they are truly His servants. Eating from pure sources is a cause for the acceptance of supplications ...

أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُۥ وَأَن تَصُومُوا۟ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Ayyaamam ma'doodaat; faman kaana minkum mareedan aw'alaa safarin fa'iddatum min ayyaamin ukhar; wa 'alal lazeena yuteeqoonahoo fidyatun ta'aamu miskeenin faman tatawwa'a khairan fahuwa khairulo lahoo wa an tasoomoo khairul lakum in kuntum ta'lamoon

[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.

(روزوں کے دن) گنتی کے چند روز ہیں تو جو شخص تم میں سے بیمار ہو یا سفر میں ہو تو دوسرے دنوں میں روزوں کا شمار پورا کرلے اور جو لوگ روزہ رکھنے کی طاقت رکھیں (لیکن رکھیں نہیں) وہ روزے کے بدلے محتاج کو کھانا کھلا دیں اور جو کوئی شوق سے نیکی کرے تو اس کے حق میں زیادہ اچھا ہے۔ اور اگر سمجھو تو روزہ رکھنا ہی تمہارے حق میں بہتر ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Fasting When Sick Verse 184 gives concession in the matter of fasting to a 'sick' person and to a person on journey'. The word 'sick' used here refers to a person who cannot fast without an unbearable hardship or has strong apprehension that his illness will be aggravated. The words "and (Allah) doe...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: For days ayyāman ‘days’ is in the accusative as the object of al-siyām ‘the fast’ or of an implied yasūmū ‘he fasts’ numbered few or specific in number that is those of Ramadān as will be mentioned below; God has specified a small number as a way of facilitating matters for those under the obligatio...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Order to Fast In an address to the believers of this Ummah, Allah ordered them to fast, that is, to abstain from food, drink and sexual activity with the intention of doing so sincerely for Allah the Exalted alone. This is because fasting purifies the souls and cleanses them from the evil that m...

حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَيْتَةُ وَٱلدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ ٱلْخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ وَٱلْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَٱلْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَٱلْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَٱلنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَآ أَكَلَ ٱلسَّبُعُ إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى ٱلنُّصُبِ وَأَن تَسْتَقْسِمُوا۟ بِٱلْأَزْلَٰمِ ذَٰلِكُمْ فِسْقٌ ٱلْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَٱخْشَوْنِ ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَٰمَ دِينًا فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ فِى مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِّإِثْمٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Hurrimat 'alaikumul maitatu waddamu wa lahmul khinzeeri wa maaa uhilla lighiril laahi bihee walmun khani qatu wal mawqoozatu wal mutarad diyatu wanna teehatu wa maaa akalas sabu'u illaa maa zakkaitum wa maa zubiha 'alan nusubi wa an tastaqsimoo bil azlaam; zaalikum fisq; alyawma ya'isal lazeena kafaroo min deenikum falaa takhshawhum wakh shawn; alyawma akmaltu lakum deenakum wa atmamtu 'alaikum ni'matee wa radeetu lakumul Islaama deenaa; famanidturra fee makhmasatin ghaira mutajaanifil li ismin fa innallaaha Ghafoorur Raheem

Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars, and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

تم پر مرا ہوا جانور اور (بہتا) لہو اور سور کا گوشت اور جس چیز پر خدا کے سوا کسی اور کا نام پکارا جائے اور جو جانور گلا گھٹ کر مر جائے اور جو چوٹ لگ کر مر جائے اور جو گر کر مر جائے اور جو سینگ لگ کر مر جائے یہ سب حرام ہیں اور وہ جانور بھی جس کو درندے پھاڑ کھائیں۔ مگر جس کو تم (مرنے سے پہلے) ذبح کرلو اور وہ جانور بھی جو تھان پر ذبح کیا جائے اور یہ بھی کہ پاسوں سے قسمت معلوم کرو یہ سب گناہ (کے کام) ہیں آج کافر تمہارے دین سے ناامید ہو گئے ہیں تو ان سے مت ڈرو اور مجھی سے ڈرتے رہو (اور) آج ہم نے تمہارے لئے تمہارا دین کامل کر دیا اور اپنی نعمتیں تم پر پوری کر دیں اور تمہارے لئے اسلام کو دین پسند کیا ہاں جو شخص بھوک میں ناچار ہو جائے (بشرطیکہ) گناہ کی طرف مائل نہ ہو تو خدا بخشنے والا مہربان ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary This is the third verse of Surah al-Ma'idah where a number of fun damental and subsidiary injunctions and rulings have been described. The first problem relates to lawful and unlawful animals. As for animals whose meat is harmful for human beings - whether physically, to it may pose the d...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Forbidden to you is carrion that is the consumption of it and blood that is what has been spilt as mentioned in sūrat al-An‘ām Q. 6145 and the flesh of swine and what has been hallowed to other than God in that it was sacrificed in the name of something other than Him and the beast strangled to deat...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Animals that are Unlawful to Eat Allah informs His servants that He forbids consuming the mentioned types of foods, such as the Maytah, which is the animal that dies before being properly slaughtered or hunted. Allah forbids this type of food due to the harm it causes, because of the blood that ...

وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا ذُكِرَ ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلَّا مَا ٱضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا لَّيُضِلُّونَ بِأَهْوَآئِهِم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ

Wa maa lakum allaa taakuloo mimmaa zukirasmul laahi 'alaihi wa qad fassala lakum maa harrama 'alaikum illaa mad turirtum ilaih; wa inna kaseeral la yudilloona bi ahwaaa'ihim bighairi 'ilm; inna Rabbaka Huwa a'lamu bilmu'tadeen

And why should you not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled. And indeed do many lead [others] astray through their [own] inclinations without knowledge. Indeed, your Lord - He is most knowing of the transgressors.

اور سبب کیا ہے کہ جس چیز پر خدا کا نام لیا جائے تم اسے نہ کھاؤ حالانکہ جو چیزیں اس نے تمہارے لیے حرام ٹھیرا دی ہیں وہ ایک ایک کر کے بیان کر دی ہیں (بے شک ان کو نہیں کھانا چاہیے) مگر اس صورت میں کہ ان کے (کھانے کے) لیے ناچار ہو جاؤ اور بہت سے لوگ بےسمجھے بوجھے اپنے نفس کی خواہشوں سے لوگوں کو بہکا رہے ہیں کچھ شک نہیں کہ ایسے لوگوں کو جو (خدا کی مقرر کی ہوئی) حد سے باہر نکل جاتے ہیں تمہارا پروردگار خوب جانتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Linkage of Verses Earlier (116), by saying: وَ اِن تطِع (And if you obey), following people in error was prohibited absolutely. Onward from there, comes the prohibition of such following in a particular matter as necessitated by an event. That event pertains to the lawfulness of what has been slaugh...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: What is wrong with you that you do not eat from that over which God’s Name has been invoked of sacrifices when He has detailed for both verbs read the passive fussila ‘it has been detailed’ and hurrima ‘that which has been forbidden’ or the active fassala ‘He has detailed’ and harrama ‘what He has f...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allowing What was Slaughtered in the Name of Allah This is a statement of permission from Allah, for His servants, allowing them to eat the slaughtered animals werein His Name was mentioned when slaughtering them. It is understood from it that He has not allowed that over which Allah's Name was not ...

قُل لَّآ أَجِدُ فِى مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَىٰ طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُۥٓ إِلَّآ أَن يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَّسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُۥ رِجْسٌ أَوْ فِسْقًا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Qul laaa ajidu fee maaa oohiya ilaiya muharraman 'alaa taa'iminy yat'amuhooo illaaa ai yakoona maitatan aw damam masfoohan aw lahma khinzeerin fa innahoo rijsun aw fisqan uhilla lighairil laahi bih; famanid turra ghaira baa ghinw wa laa 'aadin fa inna Rabbaka Ghafoorur Raheem

Say, "I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine - for indeed, it is impure - or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], then indeed, your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."

کہو کہ جو احکام مجھ پر نازل ہوئے ہیں ان میں کوئی چیز جسے کھانے والا کھائے حرام نہیں پاتا بجز اس کے کہ وہ مرا ہوا جانور یا بہتا لہو یا سور کا گوشت کہ یہ سب ناپاک ہیں یا کوئی گناہ کی چیز ہو کہ اس پر خدا کے سوا کسی اور کا نام لیا گیا ہو اور اگر کوئی مجبور ہو جائے لیکن نہ تو نافرمانی کرے اور نہ حد سے باہر نکل جائے تو تمہارا پروردگار بخشنے والا مہربان ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Mentioned in the previous verses was how astray the disbelievers of Makkah had gone when they had taken their self-carved, lifeless, insensate idols as partners in the Divinity of Allah as they made them share in animals created by Him and in many other blessings which were bestowed on th...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Say ‘I do not find in what is revealed to me anything forbidden to him who eats thereof except it be read yakūn or takūn carrion maytatan; or if read maytatun then with the form yakūn ‘it be’ preceding it or blood poured forth flowing as opposed to the case of a liver or a spleen; or the flesh of sw...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Forbidden Things Allah commands His servant and Messenger, Muhammad , قُلْ (Say) O Muhammad to those who prohibited what Allah has provided them, claiming this falsehood to be from Allah, لاَ أَجِدُ فِى مَآ أُوْحِىَ إِلَىَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَى طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ (I find not in that which has been revea...

مَن كَفَرَ بِٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِيمَٰنِهِۦٓ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُۥ مُطْمَئِنٌّۢ بِٱلْإِيمَٰنِ وَلَٰكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِٱلْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

man kafara billaahi mim ba'di eemaanihee illaa man ukriha wa qalbuhoo mutmma'innum bil eemaani wa laakim man sharaha bilkufri sadran fa'alaihim ghadabum minal laahi wa lahum 'azaabun 'azeem

Whoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief... except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allah, and for them is a great punishment;

جو شخص ایمان لانے کے بعد خدا کے ساتھ کفر کرے وہ نہیں جو (کفر پر زبردستی) مجبور کیا جائے اور اس کا دل ایمان کے ساتھ مطمئن ہو۔ بلکہ وہ جو (دل سے اور) دل کھول کر کفر کرے۔ تو ایسوں پر الله کا غضب ہے۔ اور ان کو بڑا سخت عذاب ہوگا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary From the first verse (106) comes the religious ruling about a person who has been compelled to utter a word of infidelity (kufr) under the threat that he would be killed if he did not do that. If he feels that, in all likelihood, the people threatening him have full capability of doing ju...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Whoever disbelieves in God after having affirmed his faith — except for him who is compelled to pronounce a statement of unbelief and so pronounces it while his heart is at rest in faith man ‘whoever’ is either a subject or a conditional and so the predicate of this subject or the response to this c...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah's Wrath against the Apostate, except for the One Who is forced into Disbelief Allah tells us that He is angry with them who willingly disbelieve in Him after clearly believing in Him, who open their hearts to disbelief finding peace in that, because they understood the faith yet they still tur...

إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَيْتَةَ وَٱلدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ ٱلْخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Innamaa harrma 'alai kumul maitata waddama wa lahmal khinzeeri wa maaa uhilla lighairil laahi bihee famanid turra ghaira baaghinw wa laa 'aadin fa innal laaha Ghafoorur Raheem

He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit] - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

اس نے تم پر مُردار اور لہو اور سور کا گوشت حرام کردیا ہے اور جس چیز پر خدا کے سوا کسی اور کا نام پکارا جائے (اس کو بھی) ہاں اگر کوئی ناچار ہوجائے تو بشرطیکہ گناہ کرنے والا نہ ہو اور نہ حد سے نکلنے والا تو خدا بخشنے والا مہربان ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Nature of Prohibitions: The Correct View The restrictive particle: اَنَّمَا (innama: only) appearing in verse 115 seems to give the impression that things Haram are no more than the four mentioned in the verse. This impression emerges more clearly in another verse: قُل لَّا أَجِدُ فِي مَا...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: He has forbidden you only carrion blood the flesh of swine and that which has been hallowed to other than God. Yet whoever is compelled neither craving nor transgressing then truly God is Forgiving Merciful.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Command to eat Lawful Provisions and to be Thankful, and an Explanation of what is Unlawful Allah orders His believing servants to eat the good and lawful things that He has provided, and to give thanks to Him for that, for He is the Giver and Originator of all favors, Who alone deserves to be w...

Fiqh Rulings 3 madhabs

Hanafi

wajib

Because averting destruction is obligatory by any possible means.

لأن دفع الهلاك واجب بأي طريق يمكن

hidaya: vol 02 p138

However, he is only sinful if he knew about the permissibility in this situation (of necessity).

إلا أنه إنما يأثم إذا علم بالإباحة في هذه الحالة

hidaya: vol 03 p276

haram

He is not permitted to endure what he was threatened with. If he endures until they inflict it upon him and he does not eat, he is sinful.

ولا يسعه أن يصبر على ما توعد به فإن صبر حتى أوقعوا به ولم يأكل فهو آثم

hidaya: vol 03 p276

Hanbali

wajib

If he has surplus food and finds someone in dire need, it is obligatory to give it to them because it is a state of necessity.

لزم إعطاؤه إياه؛ لأنها حال ضرورة

mughni: vol 01 p427

wajib

It is obligatory for him to leave the prayer and go out to save him (if he sees someone in danger like burning or drowning, even if the prayer time is constricted).

لزمه ترك الصلاة، والخروج لإنقاذه

mughni: vol 01 p194

mubah

It is permissible for one to take another's property to save one's life, and to destroy property to preserve it (meaning what one eats).

يجوز له أخذ مال غيره ليحفظ حياته، وإتلاف المال لتبقيته وهو ما يأكله.

mughni: vol 05 p209

wajib

If one finds a thirsty person whose life is feared, it is obligatory to give them water to drink and then perform tayammum for prayer.

وإن وجد عطشان يخاف تلفه، لزمه سقيه، ويتيمم.

mughni: vol 01 p194

Shafi'i

mubah

Or if it belongs to a present person who is also in dire need, he is not obligated to give it if he does not have an excess.

أو حاضر مضطر لم يلزمه بذله إن لم يفضل عنه

minhaj: vol 01 p141

mubah

If he prefers a Muslim (over a non-Muslim when both are in dire need of food), it is permissible.

فإن آثر مسلما جاز

minhaj: vol 01 p141

The conditions for coercion are: the coercer's ability to fulfill the threat (by authority or dominance), the coerced person's inability to repel it (by fleeing or other means), and his belief that if he resists, the threat will be carried out.

وشرط الإكراه قدرة المكره على تحقيق ما هدد به بولاية أو تغلب وعجز المكره عن دفعه بهرب وغيره وظنه إن امتنع حققه

minhaj: vol 01 p105

wajib

If one is not in dire need himself, it is obligatory for him to feed a Muslim or Dhimmi who is in dire need. If the owner refuses, the one in dire need may compel him, even if it leads to killing him.

أو غير مضطر لزمه إطعام مضطر مسلم أو ذمي فإن منع فله قهره وإن قتله

minhaj: vol 01 p141

Coercion is established by threatening with severe beating, imprisonment, destruction of property, and similar actions.

ويحصل بتخويف بضرب شديد أو حبس أو اتلاف مال ونحوها

minhaj: vol 01 p105

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