Question: Is there any reference
in the Holy Qur’an why suicide is forbidden?
Answer: In its essence, suicide
is taking one human life. The Holy Qur’an has a clear stance regarding
taking any human life. It has described only two circumstances where mankind
has been allowed to take one person’s life; when he is a criminal guilty
of killing another human being or spreading disorder in land. Excepting
these two circumstances, every killing is like killing the whole mankind.
The Holy Qur’an reads:
He who killed a human being without the latter
being guilty of killing someone else or spreading disorder in land, it
is as if he killed whole mankind. (5:32)
The Holy Qur’an has announced an
eternal punishment in the blazing fire of hell for the one who kills a
believer.
And he who intentionally kills a believer, his
reward is Hell. He shall abide therein forever, and the wrath and the curse
of God are upon him. He has prepared for him a dreadful doom. (4:93)
The collective human conscience has also
never approved of this practice not to mention the decree of Islam in this
regard. Those who resorted to executing themselves have never been remembered
with glorious remarks. The practice of healthy minds toward turbulent circumstances
also bears witness to the fact that suicide is not a commendable thing
or they would have done the same in trying circumstances. You may take
a look at the lives of the Prophets who were subject to excruciatingly
painful trials of life. If these noble personalities refrained from taking
their own lives, then it could never have been an act of bravery and valor.
As I mentioned earlier, suicide is
actually taking one human life. Anyone who kills no matter if his own self
will be cast into the dreadful pit of fire. There are also several narratives
ascribed to the Prophet (sws) which impart to us the same understanding
regarding suicide. It needs to be appreciated that the practice of committing
suicide runs quite averse to the scheme of the Almighty regarding creation
of this world. He has made it a place of test and trial; his creation will
be tested as to what person is good in deeds. The nature of this objective
entails that we subsist in this world no matter what circumstances we are
placed in. Obviously, taking your life on your own is a sort of rebellion
against the Master of this universe. Hence, it is condemned severely.
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