Suicide in Islam: A Major Sin and Its Consequences

Understanding Suicide in Islam: Major Sin, Consequences, and Solutions

Suicide is a crime, a major sin, and a serious act of destruction. This action cannot be condoned, and no excuse can be found, such as being poor, in pain, or suffering from stress. Suicide is an act of destruction and sin, no matter the circumstances. The Prophet ﷺ did not perform the funeral prayer for someone who committed suicide, but he did not forbid other companions from offering the funeral prayer either. This indicates that the funeral prayer may be offered for the one who commits suicide, but it also highlights that it is a despicable act, and that well-known scholars should not participate in the funeral prayer so that others may be deterred and learn from it.

Prophet’s Sayings on Suicide:

Let us consider some of the sayings of the Prophet ﷺ about those who commit suicide, so we may realize the seriousness of this crime:

1. The Prophet ﷺ said:
   مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسَهُ بِشَيْءٍ فِي الدُّنْيَا عُذِّبَ بِهِ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ
   Transliteration: “Whoever kills himself with something in this world, he will be punished with it on the Day of Judgment.” (Sahih Bukhari: 5700, Muslim: 110)
   
2. The Prophet ﷺ said:
   مَن تَرَدَّى مِن جَبَلٍ فَقَتَلَ نَفْسَهُ فَهو فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ يَتَرَدَّى فِيهَا خَالِدًا مُخَلَّدًا فِيهَا أَبَدًا وَمَن تَحَسَّى سُمًّا فَقَتَلَ نَفْسَهُ فَسُمُّهُ فِي يَدِهِ يَتَحَسَّاهُ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدًا مُخَلَّدًا فِيهَا أَبَدًا وَمَن قَتَلَ نَفْسَهُ بِحَدِيدَةٍ فَحَدِيدَتُهُ فِي يَدِهِ يَجَأُ بِهَا فِي بَطْنِهِ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدًا مُخَلَّدًا فِيهَا أَبَدًا
   Transliteration: “Whoever throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, he will be in the fire of Hell, falling forever, and whoever drinks poison and kills himself, the poison will be in his hand, and he will keep drinking it in the fire of Hell forever, and whoever kills himself with an iron object, that object will be in his hand and he will keep stabbing himself with it in his stomach in the fire of Hell forever.” (Sahih Bukhari: 5778)
   
3. The Prophet ﷺ also said:
   كانَ فِيمَن كانَ قَبْلَكُمْ رَجُلٌ به جُرْحٌ، فَجَزِعَ، فأخَذَ سِكِّينًا فَحَزَّ بهَا يَدَهُ، فَما رَقَأَ الدَّمُ حتَّى مَاتَ، قالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: بَادَرَنِي عَبْدِي بنَفْسِهِ، حَرَّمْتُ عليه الجَنَّةَ
   Transliteration: “There was a man among those before you who had a wound, and he became impatient. He took a knife and cut his hand, and the blood did not stop until he died. Then Allah Almighty said, ‘My servant hastened to come to Me through his own death, so I have forbidden Paradise for him.'” (Sahih Bukhari: 3463)
   

In light of these and other Quranic and Hadith texts, scholars have stated that suicide is a major sin. The person who commits suicide is still considered a Muslim, and prayers for their forgiveness can be made, they will be washed, and their funeral prayer can be performed and buried. However, the crime is extremely heinous, and because of it, the person could be cast into Hell, though Allah may forgive them or punish them by sending them to Hell.

On October 29, 2023, the suicide of Maulana Tariq Jamil’s middle son, Asim Jamil, was deeply saddening. This incident left everyone stunned and in shock. While we could dismiss it as an unforeseen event, the truth is that we should take a lesson from it. There is no doubt that this was suicide, as confirmed by Maulana’s elder son, Maulana Yusuf Jamil. On the other hand, an interview with Maulana’s brother, Dr. Tahir, revealed that Asim Jamil was a healthy, happy individual, managing his father’s ancestral home, regularly working out at the gym, and meeting friends in the evening. He was intelligent and well-adjusted. It is certain that he was not mentally ill to the extent that we could attribute his suicide to madness. A person who makes personal choices like marriage, runs a business, drives a car, works out regularly, and has several friends is not mentally ill. Imagine if someone were mentally ill, they would never ask their servant to bring them a gun. We don’t even give a knife or sword to a young child.

As for depression, it is a common problem today, affecting many people. However, depression should never justify suicide. I receive far more inquiries from Pakistan than from India, especially from women who share that a man in their family, such as a husband, father, or brother, is suffering from depression and taking medication for it. This condition is widespread in today’s world. The purpose of discussing this issue here is to clarify that no matter how severe depression may be, it is never permissible to commit suicide. Suicide is death, destruction, a serious crime, a great sin, and a cause for Hell. In the light of Islamic teachings, a person, no matter how difficult the situation may be, cannot kill themselves. Instead, they must be patient during hardships and avoid any form of self-destruction. Islam teaches that the human body must be protected from all forms of harm.

Allah Almighty says:
وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ
Transliteration: “And do not throw yourselves into destruction.” (Al-Baqarah: 195)

Sometimes, in life, a person goes through very challenging phases, and enduring such hardship can be incredibly difficult. However, even at these times, suicide is not permissible. Instead, one can pray to Allah:
اللَّهُمَّ أحْيِنِي ما كانَتِ الحَياةُ خَيْرًا لِي، وتَوَفَّنِي إذا كانَتِ الوَفاةُ خَيْرًا لِي
Transliteration: “O Allah, give me life as long as life is good for me, and grant me death when death is better for me.” (Sahih Muslim: 2680)

At this point, let’s address another issue: There is a growing lack of justice in many households, particularly in terms of how parents treat their children. In many families, parents fail to maintain fairness in matters like education, upbringing, affection, work, and financial dealings. Sometimes, one child is given preferential treatment while another faces extreme injustice. These disparities affect the lives of children, especially those who witness such injustices in the home. It’s important to note that this injustice is not only found in the homes of ordinary people but also in the homes of educated and prominent families. The case of the renowned figure, Maulana Ilyas Qadri, and his son Bilan Reza Qadri, serves as an example where injustice in the family affected their relationship.

One significant cause of disobedience among children today is the injustice shown by parents. Therefore, it is essential for us to understand this issue and work on self-improvement. We must ensure that we treat all our children fairly in every aspect of life so that the family and society are both positively impacted. After all, it is these children who form and shape society. By ensuring justice in our homes, we contribute to the betterment of both the family and society as a whole.