The Meaning of the Rule: "Necessity is measured by its extent"

The questioner : ...

The Shaykh : The matter requires elaboration, may Allah bless you, because when Allah the Mighty and Majestic forbade the prohibited foods—namely carrion, blood, and the flesh of pigs—He said: meaning except the amount by which you are saved, or rather, the amount by which you are saved from falling into destruction. So if a man is in the desert and is on the verge of dying of hunger, it is not permissible for him to eat from the flesh of a pig, for example, as if he were eating from the flesh of a sheep; rather, he eats only the amount by which he is convinced that he will be saved from perishing of hunger. From this came the rule: "Necessities permit the prohibited" and "Necessity is measured by its extent". As for "The end justifies the means", its meaning is that if a person seeks something he wants for himself, he does not ask whether the means that lead him to his goal are forbidden or lawful. Most of the Muslims today who engage in riba or prohibited transactions—most of the merchants today deposit their money in banks and claim that they are compelled to do so—there is no necessity for dealing in riba at all, especially since Allah says: This is what can be said now. Perhaps you may ask about some of the tapes and find in them some of the detail you are asking about and seeking. In conclusion, the time for questions has ended and passed. And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good

The Shaykh : And you likewise