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 173
Translations
He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allāh. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Innama harrama alaikumu al-maytah wa-al-dam wa lahm al-khinzir wa ma uhilla bihi lighayri Allah; faman idtarra ghayra baghin wa la adin fala ithm alayh; inna Allah ghafurun rahimun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah explicitly prohibits four categories of food: carrion (al-maytah), blood, pork, and animals slaughtered in the name of other than Allah. However, the ayah provides a crucial exception: if someone is forced by necessity (dharurah) to consume these prohibited items—without desiring them or transgressing—they incur no sin, as Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that necessity is defined narrowly: consuming only what is needed to survive, with sincere repentance and no enjoyment in the act.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina and addresses the dietary laws of the Muslim community. It comes within the broader context of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of Islamic legislation and practice. The verse reiterates and clarifies earlier Quranic prohibitions while establishing the principle of dharurah (necessity) as an Islamic jurisprudential exception, reflecting the Quran's balance between divine command and human circumstance.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Verily Allah has established the Sunnah (way), so do not neglect the obligations.' Additionally, Tirmidhi records that necessity permits the forbidden (ad-dharurah tuhill al-mahzurat), a principle derived from this and similar verses. The Prophet also clarified in various hadiths the conditions under which consumption of haram becomes permissible during extreme need.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Islamic law is divinely guided yet compassionate, recognizing human fragility and survival instincts while maintaining moral boundaries. It reassures believers that unintentional transgression or forced consumption does not rupture one's relationship with Allah, provided the heart remains sincere and the action is not one of deliberate disobedience.
Related Ayahs
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ نَزَّلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَفِى شِقَاقٍۭ بَعِيدٍ
That is [deserved by them] because Allāh has sent down the Book in truth. And indeed, those who differ over the Book are in extreme dissension.
فَإِنِ ٱنتَهَوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And if they cease, then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْىِۦٓ أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِۦ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِى بِهِۦ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
Indeed, Allāh is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allāh intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient,
فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ
In their hearts is disease, so Allāh has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie.