431. What is meant by under duress?
These verses (2:173, 5:3, 6:119, 6:145, 16:115) of the Quran say there is no wrongdoing on the part of a person if he commits a crime under duress.
Being subjected to undue pressure and being pushed to a situation of losing one’s life and suffering for a day’s meal is considered as under duress according to Prophet Muhammad.
The comrades of Prophet Muhammad asked him ‘Oh! Messenger of God, our area is reeling under drought now tell us up to what extent are the dead animals allowed to be consumed by us. To this the Prophet replied ‘If milk that is taken by you is not available in the mornings and evenings, you might as well consume the flesh of animals that had died on their own’.
Books : Ahmad 20893, 20896,
Daarami 1912
This hadith conveys the message, if there is unavailability of food or milk, twice a day the prohibited can be consumed.
I approached Prophet Muhmmad and questioned him as to how a prohibited food can become a permitted one, and the prophet in turn questioned me as to what my food consisted of. I replied by saying a little milk in the mornings and in the evenings. On this the prophet made it permissible for us to eat the flesh of animals that died of their own accord.
Book: Abu Dawud 3321
Not only those in the brink of death but also, those who are unable to manage two square meals a day can consume what has been prohibited by Islam. The Almighty sets two conditions for one to eat prohibited food, and we are required to adhere to these conditions.
The two conditions are ‘no voluntary opting and no transgression’.
No going in search of prohibited foods at such times and a desire to get the taste of prohibited foods at times of drought. People should not continue to remain in conditions in their life that allows them to consume prohibited foods and make efforts to come out of such situations. Not trying to come out of such circumstances constitutes transgression.
People who come under the ambit of ‘duress’ under these two conditions can consume prohibited food, it is not considered a crime.
Similarly, blood is prohibited for us, but the same is needed for some who have met with an accident etc. and transfusion takes place.
When there is permission to eat prohibited food in circumstances that may lead to death, in the same way, blood can be donated to save one from death. There can’t be anything more serious than this kind of duress.
