Articles

Statement on Prohibition of Suicide
Author : The General Iftaa` Department
Date Added : 20-03-2023

Statement on Prohibition of Suicide

 

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

Suicide is one of the major sins, which come after associating partners in worship with Allah, because it is taking life, which Allah Has Made sacred where He Said (What means): "Nor take life - which God has made sacred - except for just cause." {Al-Isra`, 33}. Life is Allah`s property, not man`s. He The Almighty Says {What means}: "Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily God hath been to you Most Merciful!" {An-Nisa`, 29}.

Suicide is taking one`s life by any means: pistol, poison, fire, drowning or hunger and thirst; all of which are forbidden by scholarly consensus. It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) observed: He who killed himself with steel (weapon) would be the eternal denizen of the Fire of Hell and he would have that weapon in his hand and would be thrusting that in his stomach for ever and ever, he who drank poison and killed himself would sip that in the Fire of Hell where he is doomed for ever and ever; and he who killed himself by falling from (the top of) a mountain would constantly fall in the Fire of Hell and would live there for ever and ever. {Bukhari & Muslim}.

 

According to the apparent meaning of this text, one who commits suicide is doomed to Hell and shall abide therein forever. However, it actually addresses the one who considers suicide lawful while, according to some scholars, this text multiplies the punishment for suicide as means of deterring people from committing this heinous crime. If one attempting suicide didn`t succeed in killing him/herself, then he/she should be disciplined and taught that what he/she committed is an act of evil because he/she attempted to take life that Allah has made sacred.

 

A Muslim mustn`t wish for death because he is afflicted by evil circumstances. Anas reported God's messenger as saying: "None of you must wish for death because he is afflicted by evil circumstances, but if he cannot help doing so he should say, ‘O God, give me life as long as life is better for me, and take me when death is better for me." {Bukhari}.

 

If a Muslim`s soul whispers suicidal thoughts or the like, the he/she should frequently seek refuge with Allah from the evil suggestions of the devil, seek forgiveness, deliver acts of obedience, and remember the Hereafter and the reward that Allah has prepared for those who patiently persevere. Allah Says {What means}: "Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, Who say, when afflicted with calamity: "To God We belong, and to Him is our return":- They are those on whom (Descend) blessings from God, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance." {Al-Baqarah, 155-157}.

 

We remind that the culture of suicide is strange to our society because belief in Allah bans a Muslim from committing such acts. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

 

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it lawful or unlawful to take payment of key money?

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
If the lease contract has expired and the lessor refrained from renewing it, then the tenant is obliged to leave the property for nothing. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Is it permissible for a woman in her menstrual period to recite from the Mus-haf (copy of the Quran ), or to recite by heart?

A menstruating woman is permitted neither to recite nor to touch the Quran according to what Ali Bin Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported about the Prophet (PBUH) who was only held from reciting the Holy Quran by Janabah (Major impurity) [Al-Tirmizi in a sound Hadith]. Although Janabah and menstruation are major impurities, a menstruating woman is permitted to supplicate Allah (Duaa`) and make Zikr (Tasbihat ), even if these involved saying words from the Holy Quran, provided that she does not mean the words for themselves but as a supplication, or Zikr. Moreover, she is rewarded for not reciting the Quran during her menstrual period because she abided by the injunctions of Allah.

Is it permissible for a father to divide his property amongst his children except one under the pretext that he has paid for the latter`s tuition? This is knowing that his other children were given the opportunity to pursue their education but didn`t because they were educationally poor. Moreover, is he allowed to give his other children who have helped him with growing his business?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah`s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
The father should be just between his children as regards gifts, in case they had similar circumstances. However, if any had a special merit, then it is permissible for the father to take that into account to be just. For example, giving his children who have helped in making his fortune and received no reward for that or giving the little ones because they haven`t taken as much as the older ones or giving the sick child who is unable to make a living. The most important thing is achieving justice. Moreover, the father is not interdicted by any of his children, and he is free to do whatever he wants with his money and Allah will call him to account as regards observing justice between his children. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

I am pregnant with four twins since two months although I didn't have childbearing potential during the last four years. In addition, the doctor specialized in reprusccusions, already has notified me about the possible reprusccusions as a result of being pregnant with four twins as follows: abortion, Metrorrhagia, Premature birth, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and the like. What is the ruling on aborting some of the aforementioned embryos? A medical report was attached in which the status of my question is clarified.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.
If the existence of the four embryos leads to critical reprusccusions/or threat on mother's health, life or a possibility of aborting all of them, then aborting one/two/three is permissible mitigate the above mentioned risks so long as the ages of the embryos don't exceed four months. And Allah Knows Best.