Every now and then we face such situation in life when Suicidal Tendency is very strong in our heart, I am going through that phase of life and although I read a lot abt this tendency in my Psychology books but I had to find out that what Quran says about it and Here's what I got.
Question:
What does the Qur'an say about suicide? How would such a person be punished?
Answer:
Salam,
It has profound implications in the times in which we live, where life appears to be something of very little value to some people. However, in Islam we are guided by the verses which give the meaning of:
*{Nor take life—which God has made sacred—except for just cause.}* (Al-Israa' 17:33).
*{If anyone killed a person not in retaliation for murder (without just cause) or to spread mischief in the land, it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved all mankind.}* (Al-Ma'idah 5:32)
So, if someone was to prevent a person from committing suicide it is as if he has saved the life of the whole of humanity.
On top of this, man cannot put himself in place of God. That is, there are some functions which only God is permitted to do. God tells us that he gives life and he takes life, see for example the Qur’an when it says what means:
*{Have you not turned your gaze to one who disputed with Abraham about his Lord because God granted him power? Abraham said, "My Lord is He Who gives life and death."}* (Al-Baqarah 2:258)
Life is given to each person for a purpose, God's purpose. We are here on earth to fulfill that purpose. Are we free to decide when our purpose is finished and we should die?
No! This is known only to God. If we take or attempt to take our own life (suicide) we are trying to perform a function that belongs to God.
Before a baby is born everything about that baby, his growth, life, livelihood, place of birth, time and place of death, as well as everything else about him, are all known ONLY TO GOD. For as long as we live in this world we are being tested. When we die, it is not the end, but the beginning of a new life. We will open our eyes in a world according to the deeds we did in this life and the Mercy of God. This new life will not be temporary. Here, we find ourselves in different situations and we try our best to rise to the occasion and to pass the test with the help of God. God says in the Qur'an what gives the meaning of:
*{Nor kill nor destroy yourselves, for surely God has been to you Most Merciful.}* (An-Nisaa' 4:29)
We should say al-hamdu lillah (gratefulness to God) for whatever situation we are confronted with. If we think it is a bad situation, it could have been worse. If we think it is a good situation, it is still a test for us. Everything is from God and we should praise Him often. Thanking Him is one way to praise Him—al-hamdu lillah.
Suicide suggests despair and that the person has come to a decision that God is not helping him. This can never be true for anyone who has purity in their intention (intention solely for God) and sincerity of action (where the action is carried through to the best of one's ability). God does not leave His sincere believers on their own, He is always with us. Each one of us must strive to maintain the correct relationship with God, by prayer, for example. We Muslims are inveterate optimists, we always believe that God can do anything. It is we, ourselves, who do not deserve God's blessings and mercies.
There are also hadith to the effect that however a person takes their own life, that will be a source of torment to them. Abu Hurairah (may God be pleased with him) narrated:
The Prophet said, "He who commits suicide by throttling shall keep on throttling himself in the Hellfire (forever) and he who commits suicide by stabbing himself shall keep on stabbing himself in the Hellfire." (Al-Bukhari Volume 2, Book 23, Number 446)
Thabit bin Ad-Dahhak (may God be pleased with him) narrated:
The Prophet said, "… … whoever commits suicide with piece of iron will be punished with the same piece of iron in the Hellfire."
Jundab (may God be pleased with him) narrated:
The Prophet said, "A man was inflicted with wounds and he committed suicide, and so Allah said: My slave has caused death on himself hurriedly, so I forbid Paradise for him." (Al-Bukhari Volume 2, Book 23, Number 445 )
Here we can only state what Islam says about suicide as an act. Yet, we cannot always judge a specific case of suicide because we never know what knows about the state of the doer the moment he/she commits it. A person who seems to have thrown himself down from the balcony might have fell by accident, while we don’t know it. So, we are never to judge and we leave the final judgment of each case for the Creator, Who definitely knows better.
May Allah Guide us all - Ameen.
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