Podcast
Bismillah Rahman Raheem
This episode is going to discuss another thing that is prohibited in Islam – suicide.
The original intent of suicide is to end one’s life. Through hurting oneself to cause the death. However, many times it might not go as planned that the suicide attempt failed.
There are many factors that might cause suicide. For example, these people have experienced various violence, including childhood abuse, bullying, or sexual violence, etc., or because of financial difficulties, financial pressure, emotional distress , relationship fall apart, serious illness, long-term illness etc., may all be the cause of suicide.
Suicide or attempted suicide can cause serious emotional, physical, and economic impacts. Those who attempt suicide and survive may suffer serious harm, which can have long-term effects on their health. They may also experience depression and other mental health problems because of the failed suicide.
People who commit suicide or attempt suicide may think if they are dead, then everything can be disappeared; they may think if they are dead, no one even cares or sad for them; they may think if they are dead, and all problems can be solved; they may think if they are dead, then they can reincarnation in the next life, and reborn and start a new life again.
First, ask yourself, can death really solve the problem? Without your existence, how can the problem be solved? Without your existence, would the problem be passed on to others? Without your existence, can others no longer be harmed?
(4:29-31) “ O believers! …do not kill yourselves. Surely Allah is ever Merciful to you. And whoever does this sinfully and unjustly, We will burn them in the Fire. That is easy for Allah. If you avoid the major sins forbidden to you, We will absolve you of your ˹lesser˺ misdeeds and admit you into a place of honour.
This Ayat clear prohibited suicide. Whoever suicide, surely go to fire. There is a hadith record that people who die by suicide will continue to commit suicide in the hereafter, that is, to repeat the most painful moment, but they will never die. It will become the reality that die is better than living but there’s no way to die again.
The most important of this Ayat is, whoever avoid this major sins, Allah will forgive all the sins, and admit one to a place of honour, which mean paradise. No matter it’s adversity or good time, there will come to an end at one point. Except Allah, there is no one, no matter or no thing that can last forever.
Therefore, suicide does not solve the problem. It is more likely to add more problems. Attempted suicide can have more serious consequences. You may lose the physical ability to do it when you want to die again. Friends and families might be adding extra economic burden and mental burden because of this.
There’s no such thing as previous lives, nor can they be reincarnated. After death, people wait for the resurrection day, the judgment day. On that day, all injustices and harms will be presented in front of everyone, the big and the small, the remembered, the forgotten, and the like moment, or the dislike moment that don’t want to be known, public and hidden, are presented in full and detailed like a movie. The grievances and injustice suffered in this world will be punished, compensated and judged impartially by Allah on the day of judgment, which is the day when all the truth is revealed.
Because one can’t commit suicide, then thinking of buying a murderer to commit suicide, or asking other people to help commit suicide, is self-deception. In the end, can only give a reminder that Allah fully knows all hidden thoughts and intentions.
No one can choose if they want to be born, when to born, where to born, it’s same as death, no one can choose. When humans have no power to give life, then humans have no rights to take their own life or other’s life.
Recent phenomenon, certain countries around the world, some use suicide bombing as a mean to attack their perceived enemies or to attain political power by means of terrorism is not condone or allow in Islamic law in any forms, or shapes or reasons, there is no justification. Also, it’s similarly unacceptable for those countries which offer Euthanasia to those serious ill patients or long-term illness patients.
In Asia, many young adults suicide due to homework pressure, exam pressure, peer pressure, being bully, or relationship fall apart, etc. Actually, as a family member, friend or senior should face up all these issues. One should care people around more, less judgment and bias, nothing so-called should or should not, because everyone is unique, not everyone has to be the same then it’s called normal.
Also, many people who suicide or kill others due to face issue, just because all these arised due to pride and prejudice. Similarly, thinking that death will save face is actually deceiving yourself and others. Instead of having the courage to die, why don’t one have the courage to face it? It’s because the one who chooses to commit suicide is not courage but actually cowardice.
Nothing can’t be solved in life. Indeed, it’s easy to say than do. But don’t give up and turn to Allah again, Everything may have a turning point. It may not be imagined at all at this moment and under the circumstances. However, Allah might bring people or things to help you from places you can’t even imagine.
In conclusion, Islam prohibits suicide in any form or shapes or circumstances. Those who attempt suicide but fail, may have serious consequences and may make life regrets. In addition to not being able to solve the problem, it is certainly to add more problems. Sometimes, if one commit suicide and want to die, one may not die as wish, because (3:145) And it is not [possible] for one to die except by permission of Allah at a decree determined. And whoever desires the reward of this world – We will give him thereof; and whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter – We will give him thereof. And We will reward the grateful.
This verse clearly points out that it is not just one who wants to die, then one can die. No one can truly control his own birth, old age, illness and death, and no normal religion will allow suicide.
Allah allow to those who die by suicide, just like the person is throwing himself into another painful beginning. For those who have family members or friends who have died as a result of suicide, this may be a cruel reality, but it is better than being kept in the dark. Don’t live with self-blame and regret, and strive for every moment you have now, to help and care for everyone around you, and you may get unexpected blessings, because Allah is the Most Merciful and Merciful.
A simple greeting, a simple word of encouragement, may avoid a tragedy. Life ups and downs are always indispensable, there is no problem that can’t be solved, only people wrongly wishful thinking that it can’t be solved. People should not have prejudice to those suicidal survivors, should listen to their stories more attentively, it’s not asking you to give advice, to judge or to use it as a conversation among friends and families.
One of the hadiths stated that the Prophet (pbuh) reminded Muslims to protect the piece of flesh between the legs and between the lips. As long as it is protected, Allah will forgive all sins and reward heaven. It is conceivable the Chinese proverb that disaster comes from the mouth.
If you have suicidal thoughts, don’t be discouraged. Talk to people around you, seek help from some suicidal prevention organizations or talk to medical personnel. Pray to Allah, list out everything you feel and go through. For us mortals, there are too many impossible. But for Allah, nothing is impossible, and nothing is difficult for Him. There is a hadith record in which Allah said: “O My servants! If all ancestors and descendants, all humans and jinns, all stand on a flat ground and pray to me at the same time, I will give everyone according to everyone’s request. The reduction of my treasure of these rewards is like a needle dipped in the sea.”
Don’t be fooled by one’s own limited knowledge, don’t be blinded by what is happening around. Stop and think. Actually Allah has given many blessings, think about the good time, think about the once-upon-a-time good health or currently still in good health. Before forget to show gratitude to Allah, now it’s still not late to show gratitude. Or maybe through this gratitude, then will discover there are still many blessings which are being neglected.
Be brave to face the difficulty. Face up to the past, present or future, re-adjust and start again, (Chinese proverb) there are always roads at the end of the mountain. After passing all these hurdles, there is always a turning opportunity. As the Chinese saying, if one not die in a tragedy, there will always be blessings waiting behind.
In HK, contact Samatrian; in Taiwan, contact Ausim; in China, contact the suicide-prevention organization near you.
May Allah grant guidance to everyone, may Allah make everything easy for you all, and the difficulties will disappear like fog.
The next episode will continue, thanks for listening.