to eating, though they differed over the details. Al-Hasan and Qatādah said: “Neither seeking it” means that one does not eat it without necessity; “nor exceeding the limit” means that one does not eat beyond what satisfies his hunger. It was also said: “Neither seeking it” means not seeking it when one can find something else; “nor exceeding the limit” means not exceeding the limit set for him. Thus, he does not eat until he is full, but eats only enough to sustain himself and preserve his life. Muqātil ibn Ḥayyān said: “Neither seeking it” means not deeming it lawful; “nor exceeding the limit” means not taking provisions from it. It was also said: “Neither seeking it” means not exceeding the amount made lawful for him; “nor exceeding the limit” means not falling short in what has been permitted to him by leaving it. Masrūq said: “Whoever is compelled to eat carrion, blood, or swine flesh, but neither eats nor drinks until he dies, will enter the Fire.”

The scholars differed regarding how much carrion a person under compulsion may lawfully eat. Some held that it is only enough to sustain his life. This is the view of Abū Ḥanīfah, may Allah have mercy on him, and one of al-Shāfiʿī’s two views, may Allah have mercy on him (1). The other view is that he may eat until he is full; this was also the view of Mālik, may Allah Most High have mercy on him. Sahl ibn ʿAbd Allāh said: “Neither seeking it” means one who has separated from the community, and “nor exceeding the limit” means an innovator who opposes the sunnah. He did not grant the innovator a concession to consume what is forbidden in cases of necessity. “Then there is no sin upon him,” that is, no blame upon him for eating it. “Indeed, Allah is Forgiving” of one who eats in a state of necessity, “Most Merciful” in that He has granted His servants this concession.

“Indeed, those who conceal what Allah has sent down of the Book and exchange it for a paltry price—they consume nothing but Fire into their bellies. Allah will neither speak to them on the Day of Resurrection nor purify them, and theirs will be a painful punishment.” (174)

His saying, Most High: “Indeed, those who conceal what Allah has sent down of the Book”: “It was revealed concerning the leaders and scholars of the Jews. They used to receive gifts and food from their common people, and they hoped that the prophet to be sent would be from among them. But when Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was sent from outside their people, they feared the loss of their livelihood and the end of their leadership. So they altered the description of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and then presented it to them. When the common people saw the altered description, they found it at variance with Muhammad’s description, peace and blessings be upon him, and so they did not follow him.” Allah Most High then revealed: “Indeed, those who conceal what Allah has sent down of the Book” (2)—meaning, the description and prophethood of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him—“and exchange it,” that is, what they conceal, “for a paltry price,” meaning a trifling compensation: the food they received from their common people. “They consume nothing but Fire into their bellies,” meaning, nothing but that which leads them to the Fire—namely bribery, unlawful gain, and the price obtained by selling religion. Since this leads them to the Fire, it is as though they had eaten the Fire. It was also said that it means that it will become fire in their bellies. “Allah will neither speak to them on the Day of Resurrection,” meaning that He will not speak to them with mercy or with words that please them; rather, He will speak to them only in rebuke. It was also said that this means that He will be angry with them, as one says: “So-and-so