Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear brother I regularly read your Q&A..May Allah rewards you and your team in helping muslims and other alike in understanding of true Islam, regardless of any particular sect. Many of my Bohri friends are in disagreement with your opinion, but I keep forwarding your mail for sake of knowledge and understanding.

My actual question is: When some muslim come across a situation where he/she has to protect of his/her life---he/she is allowed to eat "haram" or ``Mumnooat", we all know this due to the fact, suicide or taking your life in not permitted.
Now, giving similar life threatning situation--Is muslim allow to accept other religion for sake of his /her life? I hope you understand my question, please enlighten me on this...Thanks 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Saying words of disbelief to save life

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement:..May Allah rewards you and your team in helping muslims and other alike in understanding of true Islam, regardless of any particular sect. Many of my Bohri friends are in disagreement with your opinion, but I keep forwarding your mail for sake of knowledge and understanding.
May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. If our humble and modest efforts have helped even one brother or sister get closer to Allah and His Deen of Truth, then we would consider ourselves indeed fortunate to have been given this opportunity by the Lord Most Merciful to serve in His Cause. We hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

Your Statement: When some muslim come across a situation where he/she has to protect of his/her life---he/she is allowed to eat "haram" or ``Mumnooat", we all know this due to the fact, suicide or taking your life in not permitted.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 172-173:

172 O ye who believe! eat of the good things that We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is Him ye worship.

173 He hath only forbidden you dead meat and blood and the flesh of swine and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah but if one is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience nor transgressing due limits then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verses 118-119:

118 So eat of (meats) on which Allah's name hath been pronounced if ye have faith in His Signs.

119 Why should ye not eat of (meats) on which Allah's name hath been pronounced when He hath explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you except under compulsion of necessity?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 145: Say: "I find not in the Message received by me by inspiration any (meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it unless it be dead meat or blood poured forth or the flesh of swine for it is an abomination or what is impious (meat) on which a name has been invoked other than Allah's." But (even so) if a person is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience nor transgressing due limits thy Lord is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

If one is in an extreme situation whereby one fears he would die of starvation, and the absolutely only food available to him is not from amongst the halaal, he would be guiltless in the Sight of Allah if he were to, without willful disobedience or intention to transgress the boundaries of Allah, consume the haraam and save his life. Such is the sanctity of life and the Mercy of the Lord Most Merciful towards His believing slaves.

Your Question: Now, giving similar life threatning situation--Is muslim allow to accept other religion for sake of his /her life?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verses 106-110:

106 Anyone who after accepting faith in Allah utters (statements of) unbelief except under compulsion his heart remaining firm in faith, but such as open their breast to unbelief on them is Wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a Dreadful Penalty.

107 This because they love the life of this world better than the Hereafter: and Allah will not guide those who reject faith.

108 Those are they whose hearts ears and eyes Allah has sealed up and they take no heed.

109 Without doubt in the hereafter they will perish.

110 But verily thy Lord to those who leave their homes after trials and persecutions, and who thereafter strive and fight for the faith and patiently persevere; thy Lord after all this, is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Man is only accountable for his deeds which are done of his own free will. If one is faced with a life threatening situation, and is compelled or forced by the enemies of Allah and Islam to utter words of disbelief to save his life, and one utters the terms of disbelief with his mouth but his heart remaining firm in his faith in Allah and the Last Day; according the guidance of the above verse of the Glorious Quran he will not be held accountable for his utterance in the Presence of His Majestic and Merciful Lord.

It is reported in the Seerah that in the early days of Makkah, Abu Jahl used to so beat and torture Hadrat Ammar ibn Yasar (r.a.) for his declaration of belief in Allah and His Messenger (saws), that Hadrat Ammar (r.a.) would more often than not become unconscious due to the beatings and torture. One day, in such a session of extreme torture, Hadrat Ammar (r.a.) was forced to utter some words of disbelief. When Hadrat Ammar (r.a.) narrated the torture and beatings he endured and the words of disbelief which were forced out of him, the Messenger of Allah (saws) excused him and told him that if they beat him again and force him to say words of disbelief, he should say them and save his life for if his heart was content on faith, he would not be accountable for what was forced out of him.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 6284 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Allah has overlooked my people's mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do against their will."

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan