COMPULSION. Arabic Ikrah اكرة
Muslim law makes provision for persons acting under compulsion, when the person who compels has it in his power to execute orders, he be king or a thief. (Hidayah, vol. iii. p. 452.) E.g. a person forced into a contract may dissolve it. A Muslim may lawfully eat food which is prohibited if he be compelled to do so, being threatened with loss of life or limb. Nor is a Muslim guilty of sin who declares himself an unbeliever when the loss of a limb or of life is threatened. According to the Imam Abu Hanifah, if a Muslim be compelled to divorce his wife, the divorce is valid; but with him the other three Imams are not agreed to this ruling.

Based on Hughes, Dictionary of Islam