What Is the Ruling on Suicide in Islam?
ما حكم الانتحار (قتل الإنسان نفسه)؟
What's the verdict of committing suicide?
Committing suicide is strictly forbidden in Islam. Human life is a sacred trust granted by Allah, and taking one's own life, regardless of the circumstances or hardships faced, is considered a major sin.
Killing oneself is forbidden by Allah. And whoever kills himself, whatever the circumstances, commits a clear sin.
Is suicide permissible in Islam under extremely difficult circumstances?
No. Killing oneself is strictly forbidden in Islam, and whoever does so commits a major sin, regardless of the hardships or circumstances they are facing.
Why is taking one's own life considered a major sin?
Taking one's life is a major sin because human life is explicitly declared "sacred by Allah" in the Holy Quran. Destroying it is a direct violation of His command and the trust He placed in humanity.
What does Surah Al-Israa (17:33) command regarding human life?
Surah Al-Israa commands believers not to take any human life, which Allah has made sacred, except with legal right established by divine justice.
Quranic Evidence on the Sacredness of Life
1. The Comprehensive Commandment
(Say, O Prophet, "Come! Let me recite to you what your Lord has forbidden to you: do not associate others with Him in worship. Do not fail to honour your parents. Do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for you and for them. Do not come near indecencies, openly or secretly. Do not take a human life, made sacred by Allah, except with legal right. This is what He has commanded you, so perhaps you will understand.") [Al-An'am 6: 151]
2. The Direct Prohibition
(Do not take a human life, made sacred by Allah, except with legal right.) [Al-Israa 17: 33]
Scholarly Insight: In Islamic jurisprudence, one of the five foundational objectives of Sharia (Maqasid al-Sharia) is the "Preservation of Life" (Hifz al-Nafs). Scholars emphasize that a person's body and soul are not their own absolute property; rather, they are a sacred trust (Amanah) given by Allah. Therefore, destroying this trust out of despair contradicts the core Islamic tenets of patience (Sabr) and relying on Allah's mercy. Islam teaches that no matter how severe the worldly hardships or psychological pain may be, Allah's mercy is vaster, and believers are commanded to seek His help rather than ending the life He made sacred.
ما حكم الانتحار (قتل الإنسان نفسه)؟
الانتحار محرم تحريماً قاطعاً في الإسلام. فالحياة البشرية أمانة مقدسة منحها الله للإنسان، وقتل النفس، مهما بلغت قسوة الظروف، يُعد إثماً كبيراً وتعدياً على ما حرم الله.
قتل النفس محرم عند الله. ومن قتل نفسه، مهما كانت الظروف، فقد ارتكب إثماً مبيناً.
أدلة تحريم قتل النفس
1. الوصية الجامعة
(قُلْ تَعَالَوْا أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ أَلَّا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُم مِّنْ إِمْلَاقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ) [الأنعام 6: 151]
2. النهي المباشر
(وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ۗ) [الإسراء 17: 33]
1. Absolute Quranic Prohibition Against Self-Destruction | التحريم القرآني الصريح لقتل النفس
The Holy Quran delivers an unequivocal injunction protecting human life: "And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah is ever merciful to you" (Surah An-Nisa 4:29). The subsequent verse sternly warns that whoever commits this aggression out of rebellion will face the Fire.
وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا (سورة النساء: 29)
حرم الله تعالى قتل النفس تحريما جازما في محكم التنزيل: {وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا}، وتوعد المعتدي على نفسه بنار تلظى؛ لأن الله هو واهب الروح وهو وحده صاحب الحق في قبضها في الأجل المكتوب.
2. Severe Prophetic Warnings and Retribution | الوعيد النبوي المغلظ في حق المنتحر
The Prophet delivered stern warnings detailing that whoever takes their own life by leaping from heights, taking poison, or using a weapon will endure the reenactment of that punishment in the hereafter (Sahih Al-Bukhari 5778; Sahih Muslim 109), demonstrating the catastrophic spiritual gravity of despairing of Allah's mercy.
مَنْ تَرَدَّى مِنْ جَبَلٍ فَقَتَلَ نَفْسَهُ فَهُوَ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ (متفق عليه)
شدد النبي ﷺ الوعيد في شأن المنتحر، فبين في الحديث المتفق عليه أن من تردى من جبل أو تجرع سما أو قتل نفسه بحديدة يعذب بتلك الوسيلة عينها؛ زجرا للنفوس عن الانهيار أمام ضغوط الدنيا وفقدان الرجاء في رحمة الله الواسعة.
3. Life is a Sacred Divine Trust (Amanah) | حرمة الجسد البشري وأمانة الحياة
In Islamic creed, a person's physical body and life are not their private disposable property to destroy at will; they are an Amanah (divine trust). Hardships, financial crises, and illnesses are tests requiring patient perseverance, medical treatment, and reliance upon Allah, not self-annihilation.
وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ (سورة البقرة: 195)
جسد الإنسان وروحه أمانة أودعها الله عنده، وليست ملكا مطلقا يبدده متى ضاقت به السبل؛ فالأزمات النفسية والمالية والمرضية كفارات وامتحانات تستوجب الصبر الجميل، والاستعانة بالله، وطلب التداوي والعلاج لا الاستسلام لوساوس الشيطان.
4. Compassion, Mental Health, and Funeral Rulings | مراعاة أهل الأعذار والتعامل الفقهي مع المنتحر
While suicide is a major sin, Sunni scholars hold that a deceased Muslim by suicide is not declared an apostate: they are washed, shrouded, and prayed over by the general public, while religious leaders may refrain to deter others. Those suffering from acute psychotic loss of sanity are judged with divine mercy.
إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ (سورة النساء: 48)
رغم كون الانتحار من أكبر الكبائر، إلا أن المنتحر في مذهب أهل السنة لا يخرج من ملة الإسلام إن كان موحدا؛ فيغسل ويكفن ويصلى عليه ويدعى له بالرحمة والمغفرة، مع مراعاة أن فاقد العقل والوعي بسبب مرض نفسي مطبق يرجى له عفو الله وعذره.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What is the ruling on committing suicide in Islam?
It is strictly Haram (prohibited) and classified as one of the most severe major sins.
Which Quranic verse explicitly bans taking one's own life?
Surah An-Nisa (4:29): "And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah is ever merciful to you."
Is a person who commits suicide considered outside the fold of Islam?
According to Sunni jurisprudence, a believer who commits suicide remains Muslim and receives funeral prayer, though having committed a grave sin.
How does Islamic law view someone who takes their life while completely lacking mental sanity?
A person who completely loses mental faculty due to severe psychological illness is excused, as moral accountability is lifted.