What is the Shari’ah definition of dire necessity in the Islamic principle ‘dire necessity makes the forbidden allowable’?

This principle can be found in Ibn Abbas’ report that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Allah has pardoned my people for their inadvertent mistakes, their forgetfulness and for what they were forced to do.” [1]

It can also be found in the Qur’anic verse following the mention of the categories of forbidden meat, wherein Allah has said:

“But for whoever is forced by hunger (to eat of the forbidden) without desiring sin, verily Allah is forgiving and merciful.” [2]

However, the point is, what is meant by the word “forced” and how is dire necessity defined? Does it refer to circumstances under which one desires something badly and is driven by that desire to believe that he or she cannot live without it? Or is it only applicable to circumstances in which one is threatened with loss of life or limb? Does it mean when one’s life is in danger? The case usually cited to illustrate what is meant by “forced” is that of Ammar Ibn Yasir, the Sahabi who accepted Islam as a slave and was tortured to the point of death to renounce his belief. He complied with his master’s demand and falsely admitted that the Prophet (ﷺ) was a magician and that the Makkan idols were his gods. After being released from torture, Ammar Ibn Yasir avoided the Prophet’s company out of shame for what he had said; especially since, both his father Yasir and his mother Sumayyah, chose to be tortured to death rather than deny their belief in Allah and His Prophet (ﷺ). When the Prophet (ﷺ) learned of Ammar’s feelings of shame, he (ﷺ) called for him and asked him about the state of his heart. Ammar replied that it was full of Iman (belief), so the Prophet (ﷺ) said,

“If they repeat the torture repeat what you said.” [3]

Then Allah revealed the following verse:

“Whoever disbelieves in Allah after believing, except he who is forced though his heart is at peace with Iman; Allah is angry with whoever finds ease in disbelief and they will have a severe penalty.” [4]

This incident clearly illustrates the true meaning of being “forced” and “dire necessity” as understood by the Sharee’ah is circumstances in which one may incur the loss of life or limb. Only in situations in which one’s life or limb is actually threatened can be considered the type of necessity which would make certain haram practices permissible.

References:

[1] [Ibn Majah and al-Bayhaqee, and authenticated by al-Albani in Saheeh Sunan Ibn Majah, vol.1 p. 347, no 1662]

[2] [Qur’an 5:3]

[3] [Collected by al-Bayhaqee and quoted in Ibn Katheer’s Tafseer al-Qur’an]

[4] [Quran: 16-106]