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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

I wish to purchase an online account (a gaming account), and its ownership will be transferred to me. However, my friend will purchase it on my behalf, and I will repay him in deferred installments with an added profit margin to account for the installment sale. What is the ruling of Islamic Law on this transaction?

 
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The ruling on selling electronic games depends on the ruling of the game itself: if the game is permissible, then selling it is likewise permissible. However, if the game contains Sharia violations that render playing it impermissible, then selling it in that case is neither valid nor permissible. Therefore, we advise the necessity of reviewing the Sharia guidelines for electronic games set forth in Fatwa No. (3369).
 
Accordingly, if the game is permissible, a person may purchase it, take legal possession of it, and subsequently sell it in deferred installments for a price higher than its purchase price. The General Iftaa' Department has permitted dealing through Murabaha, while emphasizing the necessity of observing the Sharia conditions required for this transaction; please refer to Fatwa No. (2861). And Allah Almighty knows best.

Does sacrificing one sheep avail for the entire household?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is a communal Sunnah (Sunnah Kifayah) for members of the same household, provided that their financial maintenance is undertaken by a single provider. By "communal Sunnah," we mean that when one person performs it, the religious recommendation is fulfilled on behalf of the entire household, though the spiritual reward itself belongs uniquely to the one who offered it.
 
Therefore, if any member of the household performs the sacrifice—even if it is someone who is not legally responsible for the household's expenses, such as the wife or one of the children—the recommendation is fulfilled for everyone in that home. However, the reward does not automatically extend to the other members unless the person offering the sacrifice explicitly intends to share the reward with them—similar to how performing a funeral prayer (Janazah) fulfills the communal obligation for everyone, yet the specific reward is earned by those who actually prayed.
 
Additionally, a single sacrifice is sufficient for a man who is married to more than one wife. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

What is the ruling on eating or drinking during the second Adhan?

It is not permissible to eat or drink during the second Adhan because it announces the break of dawn and the obligation to start fasting. Allah Almighty says {what means}:"and eat and drink until you can discern the white streak of dawn against the blackness of night." [Al-Baqarah/187].
Whoever eats or drinks during this time invalidates their fast, and they must refrain from eating for the rest of the day and make up for the missed fast later.

 

Should one who doesn`t perform prayer out of laziness make it up later, and how should he/she do so?

All perfect praise be to Allah,The Lord of The Worlds                                                                                                                                                              He/she is obliged to make up missed prayers by offering with each obligatory prayer another one, and if he/she offers two, then it is better. And Allah Knows Best.

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