What Does Islam Say About Cannibalism in Survival Situations?

Assalamu alaikum! So for class, we're reading a book where someone eats another person to stay alive. My teacher wants our take on it-like, is it right or wrong, and why. In Islam, we know you can eat haram stuff, like pork, if you'd die otherwise. But would that idea cover something as huge as cannibalism? Most people think it's super wrong. I'm just wondering what the Islamic view is. Can anyone share with serious answers? JazakAllah khair.

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brother12h

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Bro, just eat the leather of your shoes or something like the Sahaba did. No scholar worth his salt would sign off on this unless you're hallucinating from hunger.

brother12h

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I read a shafi'i position that it's never permitted. Even if you die, you die a martyr of hunger. Cannibalism defiles the dead and the living. Scary question though, may Allah protect us from such trials.

brother11h

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The majority of scholars say it's not allowed, even in survival. Human dignity is too high. Better to die than eat a corpse. Some Hanbalis might allow it under extreme necessity, but it's a minority view.

brother11h

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Ask your teacher to look up the Andalusi famine fatwas. Some scholars permitted it in extreme hunger, but only if the person was already dead, not killed. It's a dark chapter but shows how serious necessity can get.

brother10h

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Man, my stomach turns just thinking about it. But fiqh is real about survival. If you're dead otherwise, and it's the ONLY thing, maybe? But most say honor the dead and trust Allah.

brother10h

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Bro, this is heavy. The body is an amanah, you can't just treat it like food. Even in fatawa on this, they say you'd have to be truly at death's door, but still, it's deeply frowned upon.

brother10h

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The reason pork becomes halal is that the prohibition is textual, not because pigs are dirty. For humans, the prohibition is inherent – our bodies have karama. Totally different level.

brother10h

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Ever heard of the rule 'darura tuqaddaru bi qadariha'? Necessity is measured by its extent. Some say if you literally have no other option and will die, maybe. But the sanctity of a human body is no small thing.

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