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Suicide is a Major Sin
Author : The General Iftaa' Department
Date Added : 05-04-2026

Suicide is a Major Sin: A Call for Collective Action

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and all his companions. 

Suicide is one of the gravest major sins (Kaba'ir) prohibited by Sharia. It is a crime against the human soul, which Allah has made sacred. Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful." [An-Nisa/29]. A person’s faith renders them a servant of Allah, fully submitted to Him, believing that their very life belongs to the Lord of the Worlds; thus, they do not possess the right to end it by their own choice. The Prophet ﷺ clarified that belief in Divine Decree (Qadar), both its good and its perceived evil, is a fundamental pillar of faith.

Religious, social, and moral responsibility mandates that we stand together in confronting the phenomenon of suicide. Our firm creed and the Sharia rulings that govern our lives serve as a fortress against this dangerous path. The spiritual and practical foundations of our noble religion grant a human being the true meaning of existence, providing hope even in the darkest of circumstances. It transforms the individual into a person of purpose, living with trust and reliance upon Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said: "None of you should wish for death because of a calamity that has befallen him; but if he must do something, let him say: 'O Allah, keep me alive as long as life is good for me, and take my soul if death is better for me'" [Sahih Bukhari].

Should a Muslim find themselves struggling with thoughts of suicide, they must seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan, increase their seeking of forgiveness (Istighfar), and devote themselves to acts of worship. They should remember the Hereafter and the immense reward Allah has prepared for those who are patient. Allah says {what means}: "And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return." Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided} [Al-Baqarah/155-157].

There must be a concerted effort involving religious guidance, the family unit, the media, educational institutions, and mental health professionals to build a national safety net. This network should ensure that every individual finds a hand extended to them when they feel the paths have been cut off, effectively transforming a culture of despair into a creed of having good expectations (Husn al-Dhann) of Allah and holding fast to hope.

At the General Iftaa’ Department, we provide a discourse that positions Sharia rulings as the most vital element in achieving spiritual elevation and protecting both soul and body. When an individual realizes that their life is a blessing of limited days, they strive to fill every moment with goodness and benefit, looking forward to the vast mercy of the Hereafter prepared for the righteous. This realization grants the soul a profound ability to mend its brokenness rather than surrendering to despair and weakness. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

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Summarized Fatawaa

Does an internal medical examination for a woman affect her fast?

An internal medical examination for a woman invalidates the fast because it involves the entry of a foreign object into the body cavity (jauf) while fasting.
In this case, the woman must refrain from eating and drinking for the rest of the day out of respect for Ramadan and make up for the missed fast after Ramadan.
Such an examination should be avoided in Ramadan and other months unless absolutely necessary, as exposing the private parts is only permissible in cases of necessity.
If necessary, a woman should seek a Muslim female doctor first. If one is unavailable, she may see a female doctor from the People of the Book (Jews and Christians). If neither is available, she may consult a trustworthy and competent Muslim male doctor.

I vowed to give a specific charity if a certain matter came to pass — what is the ruling on giving that charity before the matter is realised?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Fulfilling a vow (nadhr) is obligatory, in accordance with the word of Allah the Almighty: "And let them fulfil their vows." [Al-Ḥajj/ 29] And the saying of our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: "Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him; and whoever vows to disobey Him, let him not disobey Him." (Reported by al-Bukhārī.)
The Shāfiʿī scholars distinguished between a financial vow (nadhr mālī) and a bodily vow (nadhr badanī). They permitted the fulfilment of a financial vow to be brought forward — before the stipulated condition is met — but did not permit the same for a bodily vow, which may only be fulfilled after the condition has actually been realised.
Shaykh al-Islām Imām Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "It is permissible to bring forward the fulfilment of a financial vow before the condition stipulated in it is met — such as saying: 'If I am healed, I vow to free a slave' or 'to give such-and-such in charity' — just as it is permissible to pay zakāh in advance. This is unlike a bodily vow, such as fasting." [Asnā al-Maṭālib, vol. 4/P.246]
Imām al-Bājūrī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "Like expiation other than fasting, a financial vow — such as saying: 'If Allah heals my sick one, I vow to free a slave for the sake of Allah,' or 'If Allah heals my sick one, I vow to free a slave on the Friday following the recovery' — it is permissible to bring it forward before the recovery in the first case, and before the Friday following the recovery in the second case." [Ḥāshiyat al-Bājūrī ʿalā Sharḥ Ibn Qāsim, Vol.2/P.596] And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on the colored discharges that appear one or two days before the menstrual cycle?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Colored discharges carry the same Islamic ruling as blood, whether they appear at the beginning or the end of the menstrual period. This remains true even if the discharge is intermittent—appearing for some days and stopping for others before returning—provided that the total duration does not exceed fifteen days nor fall short of a day and a night (24 hours). This is because the minimum duration of menstruation (Hayd) is one day and a night, while its maximum duration is fifteen days. Furthermore, the minimum period of purity (Tuhr) between two menstrual cycles is fifteen days, and there is no maximum limit for it. And Allah the Exalted knows best."

When does the time for the 'aqīqah lapse and pass?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
If the guardian was financially capable (mūsir) during the majority of the postnatal period (nifās) — which is sixty days — then the obligation of the 'aqīqah remains upon him until the child reaches the age of maturity (bulūgh). Once the child reaches maturity, the demand falls away from the father and those like him. At that point, it becomes Sunnah for the child himself to perform the 'aqīqah on his own behalf.
However, if the guardian was financially incapable (mu'sir) during the postnatal period, and then became financially capable after its expiry — that is, after sixty days — the 'aqīqah is no longer required of him. And Allah Almighty knows best.

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