Is a confession made under compulsion (Ikrah) valid?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Acknowledgment of Rights
Primary text
A confession regarding the matter under compulsion is invalid, according to the ruling of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) that compulsion is lifted from the Ummah. This is also considered an utterance made under unjust compulsion, thus invalid like a sale contract made under duress.
Supporting text
If a person is coerced to confess one thing but confesses another (e.g., coerced to confess a debt to person A but confesses to person B, or coerced to confess a specific divorce but confesses a different one), the confession regarding what he was not coerced about is valid, as if he stated it originally. If a person confesses a right but later claims compulsion, his claim is not accepted without supporting evidence, as the default state is the absence of compulsion. However, if signs of compulsion exist, such as being shackled or imprisoned, his word is accepted upon taking an oath.