User:SpeedyCord/Suicide in Islam

Suicide in Islam is defined as deliberately killing oneself, which is considered a crime and a sin for which the perpetrator is accountable. It is universally prohibited, based on both transmitted and rational evidence. Allah says: "And do not kill yourselves" (Quran 4:29). Life is a gift from Allah to humans, and it is not for them to hasten death by taking their own lives, as this interferes with what does not belong to them. Preserving life is one of the five essential objectives in Islamic law. Islamic teachings emphasize that life in this world is temporary, and the true life is the hereafter, where humans are rewarded or punished by Allah. This life is a period of testing, an abode of trials and tribulations.

On this basis, Islam encourages patience in obedience to Allah and in facing life's difficulties with faith in Allah and the Last Day, acceptance of Allah's decree, and without despair or hopelessness. Allah rewards His servants in the hereafter. The concept of personal freedom does not exceed the boundaries of servitude to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Death is not an escape from life, and it does not end with it. The punishment for the one who kills himself is only realized in the afterlife since it is not possible for people to punish a dead person. The deceased's family is not punished for a sin they did not commit, and the one who kills himself bears the sin of murder, which may include tormenting oneself, distressing one's family and community, and possibly causing a loss of rights and obligations related to others.

In a hadith, Thabit bin Dhahhak reported that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: "Whoever kills himself with something will be tormented with it in the Fire of Hell." Ibn Hajar commented: "From this, it is understood that a person's crime against himself is like his crime against others in terms of sin because his soul does not belong to him absolutely but belongs to Allah, so he cannot act upon it except with His permission."

In another hadith, Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: "Whoever kills himself with an iron weapon, his weapon will be in his hand, thrusting it into his belly in the Fire of Hell, where he will remain forever. And whoever drinks poison and kills himself, he will sip it in the Fire of Hell, where he will remain forever. And whoever throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, he will fall into the Fire of Hell, where he will remain forever."

The concept of Freedom and Choice
It is well known that a person can choose certain things in life and has the freedom to choose what to eat, drink, wear, do, or abstain from. However, it is certain that there are limitations to this freedom and that this choice does not exceed the bounds of what is possible, as evidenced by reality. A person did not create himself, cannot determine the characteristics with which he is born, and does not have control over life and death. He cannot decide when he will be born, how long he will live, or prevent his own death. There are many things he is incapable of, and he undoubtedly depends on others for existence and life.

Thus, he cannot violate laws or infringe upon others. His freedom necessitates respecting the rights of others. The fact that he did not create himself means he is dependent on the Creator who brought him into existence and gave him life, which is Allah, the Creator of everything. Life belongs to Allah, and for a person to kill himself exceeds the bounds of the choice that Allah has granted him. Considering suicide a sin against Allah means that the concept of personal freedom does not extend beyond the person being a servant owned by Allah, and he does not have absolute freedom.

Faith In Allah and The Last Day (Day of Judgement/Resurrection)
The existence of a human being in life necessitates their dependence on the Creator who brought them into existence, which is Allah. The creation indicates His existence, and His lordship is proven by sending messengers and revelation to them. Considering suicide a sin or transgression is based on the principle of belief in Allah and the Last Day; because suicide is hastening death by taking one's own life, and it is an act whose matter belongs to Allah. Abstaining from it and describing it as a sin is a result of belief in Allah and knowledge of the recompense for actions in the afterlife.

A believer in the Last Day does not despair, become despondent, or lose hope in Allah's mercy. They do not see suicide as an escape from reality because they are certain that death is not an end to life, and their life does not end with death. Any punishment for the one who kills himself will only be realized in the afterlife since people cannot punish a dead person. Furthermore, the family of the deceased is not punished for a sin they did not commit. Rather, the one who kills himself bears the sin of murder and the potential consequences of torturing himself, distressing his family, friends, and community, and possibly causing the loss of rights and obligations related to others due to his death.

Hadiths
Anas Ibn Malik reported that the Prophet said, "None of you should wish for death because of a calamity befalling him; but if he has to wish for death, he should say: "O Allah! Keep me alive as long as life is better for me, and let me die if death is better for me.' "

Qur'an
Muslims unanimously agree on the prohibition of suicide, and one of the Quranic texts indicating this is the saying of Allah: "O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allāh is to you ever Merciful." (Qur'an 4:29)

and "And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good."

Al-Tabari said in the interpretation of Allah's saying: "It means, by this - Exalted is His praise - do not kill yourselves, and do not kill each other, for you are people of one faith, one call, and one religion. Allah - Exalted is His praise - has made all the people of Islam as if they are part of one another, and has made the killer among them as if he has killed himself in killing his brother, since the killer and the killed are both people of one hand against those who oppose their faith." Asbat reported from Al-Suddi: "People of your faith." Ata' bin Abi Rabah said: "Killing each other." Just as killing oneself is a sin.

In Islam, killing oneself is considered a sin, as indicated by the texts, and it is also prohibited in previous scriptures. However, in some instances, it was a punishment imposed by Allah on the transgressors among the Children of Israel, as indicated by Allah's saying: "And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "O my people, indeed you have wronged yourselves by your taking of the calf [for worship]. So repent to your Creator and kill yourselves [i.e., the guilty among you]. That is best for [all of] you in the sight of your Creator." Then He accepted your repentance; indeed, He is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful." (Qur'an 2:54)

Islamic Ruling
Suicide is considered a major sin, and the one who kills themselves is disobedient. They will be punished in the Fire on the Day of Judgment because of this crime they committed. However, committing this sin does not take one out of the fold of Islam, nor does it necessarily condemn them to eternal damnation in the Fire. Allah, the Most High, says: "And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful." (Qur'an 3:129)

Evidence Against Apostasy
In his Sahih, Muslim narrated "Do you need strong, fortified protection? The tribe of Daus had a fort in the pre-Islamic days. The Apostle (ﷺ) declined this offer, since it (the privilege of protecting the Holy Prophet) had already been reserved for the Ansar. When the Apostle (ﷺ) migrated to Medina, Tufail son of Amr also migrated to that place, and there also migrated along with him a man of his tribe. But the climate of Medina did not suit him, and he fell sick. He felt very uneasy. So he took hold of an iron head of an arrow and cut his finger-joints. The blood streamed forth from his hands, till he died. Tufail son of Amr saw him in a dream. His state was good and he saw him with his hands wrapped. He (Tufail) said to him: What treatment did your Allah accord to you? He replied. Allah granted me pardon for my migration to the Apostle (ﷺ): He (Tufail) again said: What is this that I see you wrapping up your hands? He replied: I was told (by Allah): We would not set right anything of yours which you damaged yourself. Tufail narrated this (dream) to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Upon this he prayed: O Allah I grant pardon even to his hands."

The Wisdom Behind Prohibiting Suicide
In Islam, man is the property of his Creator and Master. God gave him the soul and body and commanded the angels to prostrate to him, and sent him down to earth to inhabit it and to be God’s successor there. It is not permissible for a Muslim to kill himself, as his body is a trust that God has entrusted to him, and it is not permissible to destroy the body. Because it is not permissible to tamper with trust.