What is the ruling on eating one's female cousin when extremely hungry in the desert due to getting lost and fearing perishing?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is impermissible to kill an inviolable human being in order to save oneself, and necessity does not permit it, by the consensus of scholars, because harm is not removed by similar harm. From this premise, killing the cousin in a state of famine is a grave and unjustified error, and the perpetrator must repent. The guardians of the slain have the right to retribution (qisas) or forgiveness and acceptance of blood money (diyah). The one compelled to kill must provide compensation because he killed unjustly.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 135071
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy