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Suicidehttp://allaahuakbar.net/JIHAAD/SUICIDE.HTM by Imaam al-Haramain Abdul-Baaree ibn ‘Awad Ath-Thubaytee 15 Dhul-Qa ‘dah, 1421 (February 9, 2001) All praise is due to Allah, the Owner of sovereignty. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah Alone and I testify that Muhammad (saws) is His Servant and Messenger. Dear Brothers! I enjoin you and myself on fear of Allaah. For, fear of Allaah is the only means to salvation in this world and the next. Allah says: “O you who believe fear Allaah as He should be feared and die not except in a state of Islaam.” (Aal ‘Imraan 3:102). Dear Brothers in faith! Western societies these days live in social and physical diseases as a result of a negative effect of its material civilization. Alcohol and drugs are widely taken in an attempt to escape from the bitter psychological condition and in search of happiness. Suicide as a matter of fact, is regarded the ultimate means of permanent escape from the hell and woes of this life. This phenomenon is indisputably caused by the breakdown of family structure in these societies and harmful craving for the material hence making an average westerner feel confused, lost and dejected thereby wishing to get out of these problems by ending his or her life. Statistics from these societies are enough an evidence to testify to this. It is not strange that a kaafir commits suicide, because, he does not have any fortress of faith that could protect him, neither a strong family structure nor a loving community. Indeed, frequency of suicidal cases all over the world most especially in the western countries is a vivid indication that, despite all this huge advancement that the modern civilization boasts of, it has failed woe fully in providing the primary needs of man. This was what happened in the first generation of Islaam, though it was very rare. However, when cases of suicide become frequent in any given Muslim society, alarm has to be raised so that the situation may be adequately studied, analyzed and given solutions. It is also because of preserving the life that Islaam forbids fighting and war among Muslims. Aboo Bakrah ra reported that the Prophet saws said:‘If two Muslims were to face each other with their words; the killer and the killed would be in Hell.’ He (Aboo Bakrah) said: This is the killer, what about the killed? He said: “Because he was eager to kill his companion.” (Al-Bukhaaree & Muslim). Brothers in Faith! No matter how a disease or poverty affects man, he has no right to kill himself. If he however does that, he becomes a dweller of Hell. Allaah says:“And do not kill yourselves. Surely, Allaah is Most Merciful to you. And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, we shall cast him into the fire, and that is easy for Allaah.” (An-Nisaa 4:29-30). ‘Amr Ibn Al-‘Aas used this verse as an evidence for his abstention from taking bath with cold water when he became impure during the battle of Dhaatus-Salaasil because he was afraid of dying of cold…and the Prophet (saws) approved his deed, smiled at him and said nothing. Aboo Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allaah also said: “He who strangles himself to death, shall keep on strangling himself in the Hell and He who stabs himself to death shall keep on stabbing himself in Hell .” (Al-Bukhaaree). He also said: “There was among those who were before you, a man who had a wound. The man could not bear the pain of that wound, so he took a knife and cut his hand with it and as a result, bled to death. Allaah then said: “May slave has caused death on himself hurriedly and for this, I have made Paradise forbidden for him.” (Al-Bukhaaree). The person who killed himself has no excuse, however his distress may be, for, what he resorted to is more severe than what he escaped from and what he losses would be greater than whatever he might have gained by killing himself. There is no argument in the fact that the distress and grief of this world that is caused by illness, poverty, disgrace and misery are great and successive but all that by no means should not drive the affected person into destroying his own life. If we are to accept the excuse of the person who kills himself, this world would have remained without inhabitants and Allaah’s Law on this worldly life would have changed. Let us ask the person who killed himself, what did he want to gain from perpetrating this act? Did he want -by drinking a deadly poison, burning himself or hanging himself- to escape into a world that is free from all problems? If that was his intention he has done a great mistake because, he would be treated according to Divine Justice with what contradicts his intention and wish by preparing for him a reward that is of the same kind of what he did in order to make his punishment perpetual. It is weakness of faith that makes a person -when he fails at an undertaking or is affected by a pain or losses in a business deal or suffers family problems- unable to bear what befalls him. He therefore, sees the whole world as full of darkness and as a bitter torment, thereby losing hope and attempting killing himself to escape from that torment. Allaah tests His slaves by making them different from one another in terms of talents and wealth and that is in accordance with His law. He says: “And it is He who has made you generations coming after generations, replacing each other on earth. And He has raised you in ranks some above others that He may try you in that which He has bestowed on you.” (Al-An‘aam 6:165). If you ponder over Qur'ânic verses, Sunnah texts and stories of true believers, you will see many who have been afflicted with various kinds of huge tribulations, but these people rather persevered, stood firm and were pleased with what Allaah had decreed for them. Dear brethren! Some people invite affliction to themselves through permanent anxiety and sorrow by saying that: “Why should I live a destitute life while others are rich? Why should I be overpowered by illness while others are healthy? These type of questions actually means protesting against Allaah. This makes one lose his faith and imposes despair over ones life. Allaah says: “Is it they who would portion out the mercy of your Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in this world and We raised some of them above others in ranks..” (Zukhruf 43:32). If every member of the society is given a sound religious education, nobody will gamble with his eternal felicity because of what he losses in this mundane world. The belief in predestination in both its good and bad aspects makes one give good interpretations to misfortunes of this life thereby regarding poverty as abstinence from worldly luxuries, illness as a sort of Jihaad, regarding a failure as a way to patience and a sorrow as an aspect of hope. The Messenger of Allaah saws says: “The affair of the believer is wonderful! All affairs of his are good and that is for none except the believer. If he is blessed with prosperity he thanks (Allaah) and that is good for him. And when he is afflicted with an adversity he perseveres and that is also good for him.” (Muslim). In order to alleviate the pain of affliction on the soul; the afflicted person should console himself by looking at those who are also afflicted with one calamity or another. Let him look at the Prophets –peace be on them- who are the most afflicted. Prophet Yoosuf was jailed “…So he stayed in prison a few more years.” (Yoosuf 12:42). Muhammad saws was driven out of his birthplace and wounded during the battle of Uhud. Prophet Ayyoob was afflicted with tribulations for good eighteen years and the tribulations claimed all his properties and children. Allaah says: “And (remember) Job when he cried to his Lord: “Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the most merciful of all those who show mercy.” So We answered his call, and We removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family (that he had lost) to him, and the like thereof along with them as a mercy from Ourselves and a Reminder for all those who worship Us.” (Al-Anbiyaa 21:83-84). Brother in Faith! Whenever you find your self in fear, sorrow or grief, just rise up and pray; you will get relief and peace of mind. The Prophet saws when an issue gave him concern used to say: “O Bilaal, make a call to prayer and relieve us with it.” (Aboo Daawood). When you have little money, much debts and meager income just say: “Hasbuna llahu wani‘mal-wakeel.” [i.e. Allaah Alone is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs]. Also keep the company of good people because being in solitude and keeping away from righteous company make one succumb to the whims of Satan. Have patience and perseverance however big the calamity may be, for, victory comes through perseverance. Fellow Muslims! There is no doubt in the fact that, the person who committed suicide would bear the consequences of his act, but the society should also bear a part of it. That is because, if the victim of suicide had found considerate and sympathetic people in the society…If only he had found sincere guides and counselors… If only he had found a student of knowledge who could drive away his insinuations… If only he had found a society that is cohesive and united in solidarity, the problem of suicide would not have occurred. Brethren in Islaam! Some films present suicide as means of escaping from problems and adversities and impressing that on the psyche of the growing generations of this time as it also increase tension and worriness and stimulate love of aggression, alcohol and drugs. In order to protect our youths from these evils, we should inculcate in them through our educational institutions how to understand trials, Islaamic perspective of this mundane life and how to bear hardships with patience right from childhood. We should also implant the faith in Allaah in their hearts and make them understand the true concept of Eemaan in Predestination and Allaah’s Decree and prevent them from watching films that may destroy these concepts in their minds. The community should also strengthen social and brotherly relationship among individuals. The Imaams and Scholars have a major role to play in this regard.
Suicide Bombings in the Scales of Islamic Law Author: Imaam Muhammad Naasir-ud Deen Al-Albaanee Answer: It is uniformly known amongst the Scholars that it is not permissible for a Muslim to commit suicide to relieve himself of a calamity "financial, painful illness that is terminal or any other thing that has befallen him. Suicide to relieve oneself from these types of hardships is without a doubt Haraam. There are Hadeeth reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim that imply that a person taking his own life by consuming poison or piercing himself or any other means (that result in his death) shall result in him being punished with that same mode of death until the Day of Resurrection. Some of the scholars have understood that the person who commits suicide dies as a Kaafir or an unbeliever since the one who commits such an act has malice and distain for His Lord because of the calamities he has faced without patience. Without a doubt, a (true) Muslim could never reach the level whereby he contemplates such a heinous act, let alone carry out the act of taking his own life. In most cases the individual who takes his own life is not a Muâ€کmin †"true believer. Yet it is conceivable that a Muslim may be affected by a contagious evil ideology that may lead him to commit suicide. It is conceivable that such an act could take place. Due to this we say with full conviction and certainty that he (the one who commits suicide) is not a true believer. This is similar to the one who abandons prayer out of Juhood (stubborn rejection) of its legislation and passes away a Muslim named Ahmad bin Muhammad. But if it was known that he denied/disavowed prayer then he is not to be buried within the Muslim burial ground. The same (conditions and verdict) is for the one who commits suicide and it becomes known that his suicide was due to malice and distain for His Lord because of the calamities he faced. We now turn our attention to suicide missions. These suicide missions became infamously known (around the world) because of the Japanese practice of Kamikaze. A man would hurl his warplane towards an American naval vessel, effectively destroying himself along with the plane and as many enemy soldiers as he could muster. All suicide missions in our current time are unsanctioned deeds that are all to be considered Haraam (prohibited). The suicide missions may be of the type that renders its practitioner eternally in the Fire or it could be the type that renders its practitioner to be from those who shall not reside eternally in the Fire as I have just explained. But to view these suicide missions as a being a means to draw near to Allaah (praiseworthy act of worship) by killing oneself today for his land or his country then we say No (it is not an act that is praiseworthy). These suicide missions are not Islamic – period! In fact I say today that which represents the Islamic reality – not the reality that is sought by a few of the (improperly) overly active Muslims – that there is no Jihaad in the Islamic lands at all. Surely there is combat in numerous Muslim countries, but there is no Jihaad that is established under a (solely) Islamic banner, and that is established upon Islamic regulations. From these (missing) regulations are that a soldier is not permitted to act as he (individually and singularly) wishes. He is not permitted to decide for himself what it is that he is to do. Rather he is to be bound to an order from a commander. In turn this commander is not an individual who claims the position (of leadership) for himself and makes himself commander. Rather the commander is delegated the authority from the Khaleefah of the Muslims. So where is the Khaleefah for the Muslims today? Where is the Khaleefah, or for that matter a ruler who raises (solely) the banner of Islaam and calls Muslims to draw near him and perform Jihaad in the way of Allaah (alone)? As long as (we affirm) that Jihaad, according to Islamic (regulations), must fulfill the prerequisite of it being (solely) under the banner of Islaam and (we find that) this banner does not have a commander (during the current era), then we (state) that an Islamic suicide is not permitted (as it is performed today). I am well aware of the fact that suicide was known in the past generations of those who fought with spears, swords and arrows. Some of the forms of that warfare resembled suicide (dueling to the death). Examples of this was when an individual would surge forward and face a large contingent of unbelievers and polytheists – striking them from the right and the left – and (all the while knowing) that few would escape this predicament safely. Therefore is that action permitted? We answer that at times it would be permitted and other times it would not be permitted. If the commander of the army is the Messenger of Allaah and he gave permission to that individual, then it is permitted for him. But for that individual to decide for himself then it is not permitted because it is considered a perilous, hazardous action (at the least) if we do not say that it is a gamble (as well). (Therefore) such an act is not permitted without the explicit order of the Muslim ruler or the Khaleefah of the Muslims. Why? What should be done is that the ruler or the Khaleefah should assess the situation with great care. He is the one who has the knowledge of when it is most appropriate to attack the enemy – 100 Muslims facing 1000 (or more or less of) the enemy. He is the one to order the advance, knowing that from them there may be tens who shall die, and knowing that the eventual victory is for the Muslims. Therefore when the commander of the army of Muslims – delegated that duty by the Muslim Khaleefah – orders a single soldier to employ a particular action from the contemporary means of suicide (missions during the battle) then this is to be considered Jihaad in the way of Allaah. But for a young man, blind (to the realities and intricacies of war) to decide on his own, - as we often hear – to climb the face of a mountain and enter into a fortified location used by the Jews and kill some of them and be killed in the process…what is the benefit of such a deed? These are solely individualized acts that do not have a positive consequential result that is benefiting to the Islamic Call. Therefore we say to the Muslim Youth, “Protect your lives, on the condition that you (use it) in learning your Deen and your Islaam. Become acquainted with it properly and act according to it to the best of your abilities.†This course of action and deed, slow and tedious as it may seem, is the deed that shall bear the desired fruit that is sought after by all Muslims, regardless of their varying ideologies and methodologies. All are in agreement that Islaam should be what (we use) to govern, but they dispute in the path (to that objective). Surely the best guidance is that of Muhammad(sas).
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