Question:

Asslamu alaikum,

Is the punishment of the Muslim, who commits suicide, equal to the punishment of kafar (unbeliever)? How can we interpret the texts on this issue? Jazakum Allah khaira.

Answer:

In the name of Allah, Ar-Rahmaan, Ar-Raheem.

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessing be upon the Messenger of Allah, his household, his companions, and his followers.

Suicide is one of the major sins, and texts, which warn of severe punishment, were narrated about it, among which are the following:

• Abu Hurayra may Allah be pleased with him reported that the Prophet sala Alla alaihi wa-sallam said: "He, who kills himself with steel (weapon), his steel will be in his hand, and he will be thrusting it into his stomach in the hellfire forever. He, who drinks poison, and then kills himself, his poison will be in his hand, and he will be sipping it in the hellfire forever. He, who throw himself from a mountain, and then kills himself, he will constantly be falling in the hellfire forever. "Narrated by Muslim.
• Jundub bin Abdul-Allah may Allah be pleased with him narrated that the Messenger of Allah sala Allah alaihi wa-sallam said:  "Among those who came before you, there was a man, who was wounded, and he felt very uneasy. Thus, he took a knife, and cut his hand with it, and the blood did not stop flowing until he died. Allah said, 'My salve hastened to bring about his demise; I have forbidden Paradise to him'" Narrated by Al-Bukhaari.

The principle of warning texts according to the belief of Ahlu as-Sunna wa al-Jama is that they combine such texts with the other texts, which confirm that those who worship Allah alone will not remain in the hellfire forever.  This is because Allah, be exalted said: [Verily, Allah does not forgive that others are worshipped with Him, and He forgives other than that for whomever He wills…] [Surah An-Nisa': 48]. Accordingly, they interpret these texts (warning texts), and the like in many ways, among which the following:

• a) These texts are about those who consider it (suicide) lawful (halal), because if they consider it lawful, they become unbelievers, and definitely, the unbelievers will remain in the hellfire forever.
• b) It was meant to warn by saying (remain forever), which was mentioned in the hadith, and not its literal meaning.
• c) What was mentioned in the hadith is his punishment; however, Allah will honor whoever worships Him alone, and bring him out of the hellfire because he worships Him alone.

Dealing with the affirmative and negative hadiths should be in this manner, since other texts about whoever commits suicide support this interpretation.  It is narrated on the authority of Jabir that At-Tufail bin Amr Ad-Dausi came to the Prophet sala Allah alaihi wa-sallam, and said: Would you like strong, fortified protection? And he said, the tribe of Daus had a fort in the pre-Islamic days. The Prophet salaa Allah alaihi wa-sallam declined this offer, (Because of the fact that Allah reserved the privilege of protecting the prophet for the Ansar.). When the prophet sala Allah alaihi wa-sallam migrated to Al-Madina, At-Tufail bin Amr Ad-Dausi also migrated to Al-Madina, and there also migrated along with him a man of his tribe. However, the climate of Medina did not suit him, and he fell sick. He felt very uneasy. Thus, he took hold of a head of an arrow and cut his finger-joints. The blood streamed forth from his hands, until he died. At-Tufail bin Amr Ad-Dausi saw him in a dream. His state was good, and he saw him with his hands wrapped. He (At-Tufail) said to him: What treatment did Allah accord to you? He replied, Allah forgave me for my migration to His prophet sala Allah alaihi wa-sallam. He (At-Tufail) said: What is this that I see your hands wrapped? He replied, I was told: "We would not set right anything of yours which you damaged yourself." At-Tufail narrated the dream to the Prophet sala Allah alaihi wa-sallam. Upon this, the prophet sala Allah alaihi wa-sallam prayed:" O Allah, grant pardon even to his hands." Narrated by Muslim.

In sum, committing suicide is not kufur( unbelief), which brings its perpetrator out of Islam, rather, it is one of the major sins, and its punishment depends on the Will of Allah on the Day of Judgment .If Allah wills, He will forgive it, and if He wills, He will punish its perpetrator. And Allah knows best.

Question:

Asslamu alaikum,

Is the punishment of the Muslim, who commits suicide, equal to the punishment of kafar (unbeliever)? How can we interpret the texts on this issue? Jazakum Allah khaira.

Answer:

In the name of Allah, Ar-Rahmaan, Ar-Raheem.

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessing be upon the Messenger of Allah, his household, his companions, and his followers.

Suicide is one of the major sins, and texts, which warn of severe punishment, were narrated about it, among which are the following:

• Abu Hurayra may Allah be pleased with him reported that the Prophet sala Alla alaihi wa-sallam said: "He, who kills himself with steel (weapon), his steel will be in his hand, and he will be thrusting it into his stomach in the hellfire forever. He, who drinks poison, and then kills himself, his poison will be in his hand, and he will be sipping it in the hellfire forever. He, who throw himself from a mountain, and then kills himself, he will constantly be falling in the hellfire forever. "Narrated by Muslim.
• Jundub bin Abdul-Allah may Allah be pleased with him narrated that the Messenger of Allah sala Allah alaihi wa-sallam said:  "Among those who came before you, there was a man, who was wounded, and he felt very uneasy. Thus, he took a knife, and cut his hand with it, and the blood did not stop flowing until he died. Allah said, 'My salve hastened to bring about his demise; I have forbidden Paradise to him'" Narrated by Al-Bukhaari.

The principle of warning texts according to the belief of Ahlu as-Sunna wa al-Jama is that they combine such texts with the other texts, which confirm that those who worship Allah alone will not remain in the hellfire forever.  This is because Allah, be exalted said: [Verily, Allah does not forgive that others are worshipped with Him, and He forgives other than that for whomever He wills…] [Surah An-Nisa': 48]. Accordingly, they interpret these texts (warning texts), and the like in many ways, among which the following:

• a) These texts are about those who consider it (suicide) lawful (halal), because if they consider it lawful, they become unbelievers, and definitely, the unbelievers will remain in the hellfire forever.
• b) It was meant to warn by saying (remain forever), which was mentioned in the hadith, and not its literal meaning.
• c) What was mentioned in the hadith is his punishment; however, Allah will honor whoever worships Him alone, and bring him out of the hellfire because he worships Him alone.

Dealing with the affirmative and negative hadiths should be in this manner, since other texts about whoever commits suicide support this interpretation.  It is narrated on the authority of Jabir that At-Tufail bin Amr Ad-Dausi came to the Prophet sala Allah alaihi wa-sallam, and said: Would you like strong, fortified protection? And he said, the tribe of Daus had a fort in the pre-Islamic days. The Prophet salaa Allah alaihi wa-sallam declined this offer, (Because of the fact that Allah reserved the privilege of protecting the prophet for the Ansar.). When the prophet sala Allah alaihi wa-sallam migrated to Al-Madina, At-Tufail bin Amr Ad-Dausi also migrated to Al-Madina, and there also migrated along with him a man of his tribe. However, the climate of Medina did not suit him, and he fell sick. He felt very uneasy. Thus, he took hold of a head of an arrow and cut his finger-joints. The blood streamed forth from his hands, until he died. At-Tufail bin Amr Ad-Dausi saw him in a dream. His state was good, and he saw him with his hands wrapped. He (At-Tufail) said to him: What treatment did Allah accord to you? He replied, Allah forgave me for my migration to His prophet sala Allah alaihi wa-sallam. He (At-Tufail) said: What is this that I see your hands wrapped? He replied, I was told: "We would not set right anything of yours which you damaged yourself." At-Tufail narrated the dream to the Prophet sala Allah alaihi wa-sallam. Upon this, the prophet sala Allah alaihi wa-sallam prayed:" O Allah, grant pardon even to his hands." Narrated by Muslim.

In sum, committing suicide is not kufur( unbelief), which brings its perpetrator out of Islam, rather, it is one of the major sins, and its punishment depends on the Will of Allah on the Day of Judgment .If Allah wills, He will forgive it, and if He wills, He will punish its perpetrator. And Allah knows best.

AMJA Fatwa #80094

AMJA Fatwa #80094