Is it permissible to kill and eat an unlawfully combatant enemy (Harbi) or apostate (Murtad) for self-preservation?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Hunting and Slaughter

Book 56 · Issue 2 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

The Hanbali school, as related by Al-Qadi, permits killing and consuming the flesh of a person whose blood is deemed lawful to shed, such as a hostile combatant or an apostate. This is because such a person has no sanctity, placing them in the category of wild beasts. The Shafi'i scholars agree with this ruling.