Which is more prioritized: preserving life or preserving religion? And what are the evidences from the Quran, Sunnah, and the sayings of jurists that support prioritizing the preservation of religion over the preservation of life?
The five necessities are: religion, life, intellect, progeny (or lineage), and wealth. Some have added: honor. It is well-known that the preservation of religion takes precedence over other necessities, such as prioritizing jihad over the preservation of life. However, this order is a matter of ijtihad (independent reasoning) and there is disagreement regarding it. There is a view that prioritizes the preservation of life over the preservation of religion, and there are many examples of this, such as the permissibility of uttering disbelief when under duress, and eating carrion when in dire necessity. Al-Amidi elaborated at length in his defense of prioritizing the preservation of the foundation of religion, and he responded to the arguments of the other view.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/23760