❀ Islamic Ruling on Suicide ❀
Source:
This article is derived from the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, based on the Fatwas of the scholars of the Haramain. The translation was done by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
What is the ruling on suicide in Islam?
Suicide refers to a person intentionally killing themselves by any means. It is haram (forbidden) and classified as a major sin (kabīrah).
Allah ﷻ says:
وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللَّـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا
[Surah An-Nisa 4:93]
"And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein; and the wrath and curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful punishment is prepared for him."
The prohibition of suicide falls under the ruling of this verse.
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
"Whoever kills himself with anything will be punished with that same thing in the Fire of Hell, and he will abide therein forever."
Most people who commit suicide do so due to difficult life circumstances, whether those hardships are from Allah as a test, or caused by people. Unable to bear the afflictions, the person chooses to end their life.
In reality, such a person seeks refuge from heat in the fire—leaving a lesser trial for a far greater one. Had the person been patient, Allah ﷻ would have granted them the strength to endure. As it is said, no condition remains the same forever, and the situation could have changed for the better.
[Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله]
Source:
This article is derived from the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, based on the Fatwas of the scholars of the Haramain. The translation was done by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on suicide in Islam?
❖ Answer:
Suicide refers to a person intentionally killing themselves by any means. It is haram (forbidden) and classified as a major sin (kabīrah).
Allah ﷻ says:
وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللَّـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا
[Surah An-Nisa 4:93]
"And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein; and the wrath and curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful punishment is prepared for him."
The prohibition of suicide falls under the ruling of this verse.
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
"Whoever kills himself with anything will be punished with that same thing in the Fire of Hell, and he will abide therein forever."
Most people who commit suicide do so due to difficult life circumstances, whether those hardships are from Allah as a test, or caused by people. Unable to bear the afflictions, the person chooses to end their life.
In reality, such a person seeks refuge from heat in the fire—leaving a lesser trial for a far greater one. Had the person been patient, Allah ﷻ would have granted them the strength to endure. As it is said, no condition remains the same forever, and the situation could have changed for the better.
[Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله]
