What is the ruling on risking one's life, leading to perdition, in order to change an evil (after fulfilling the conditions for change), or to save a drowning person, or someone in a fire?
It is permissible to change evil by hand after exhausting the previous stages of admonition, reminding, and teaching, provided that this change does not lead to a greater evil or a general discord whose harm would be magnified. The obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil is lifted if it is highly probable that there will be no response, though it remains recommended. Rescuing drowning and burning victims is a communal obligation (fard kifayah), and becomes an individual obligation (fard ayn) for anyone who is the only one available to perform it. This takes precedence over performing prayers if the two interests conflict. It is permissible to break one's fast to save a life. However, the obligation to rescue is conditional on the presumption of safety, and one is not obligated to rescue another if it is highly probable that the rescuer will perish.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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