Why Suicide is Haram in Islam?

Suicide is haram and a major sin in Islam. The word ‘Haram’ in the Quran refers to something that is prohibited and forbidden by Allah. Those who commit suicide will go to Hell and Allah will punish them.

Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “.... Whoever kills himself with something, then Allah will punish him with whatever he killed himself with on the Day of Judgement.”

(Tirmidhi: 2636)

1- Paradise is Forbidden

Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) said: 

"Amongst the nations before you there was a man who got a wound, and growing impatient (with its pain), he took a knife and cut his hand with it and the blood did not stop till he died. Allah said, 'My Slave hurried to bring death upon himself so I have forbidden him (to enter) Paradise.' "

(Sahih Bukhari: 3469)

2- Eternal Punishment in Hell

Prophet (S.A.W.) said: 

“Whoever purposely throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, will be in the (Hell) Fire falling down into it and abiding therein perpetually forever; and whoever drinks poison and kills himself with it, he will be carrying his poison in his hand and drinking it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever; and whoever kills himself with an iron weapon, will be carrying that weapon in his hand and stabbing his Abdomen with it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever."

(Sahih Bukhari: 5778)

3- About Funeral Prayer (Who Committed Suicide)

The Prophet (S.A.W.) refrained from offering the Janazah (funeral prayer) for one who had committed suicide, as a punishment to him and so as to discourage others from doing what he had done. But he gave the people permission to offer the Janazah for him.

‘(The dead body) of a person who had killed himself with a broad-headed arrow was brought before the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), but he did not offer prayers for him.’

(Sahih Muslim: 978)

This does not mean that we should not pray and make Dua for the mercy and forgiveness of the person who committed suicide. We must make prayers because the person who committed suicide highly needs it as it is a major sin, though this does not take him outside of Islam. It is subject to the will of Allah on the Day of Resurrection, if He wills, He will forgive it, and if He wills He will punish for it. 

4- Wordly Hardships & Calamities

A believer is obligated to exercise patience at times of affliction to the best of his ability. He is not commanded to commit suicide to escape afflictions.

People commit suicide because of calamities and hardships of life but remember one thing, a believer has to be patient and seek Allah’s help. He should understand that no matter what hardship befalls him in this world, no matter how severe it is, the punishment of the Hereafter is eternal and worse than this temporary worldly problem which inevitably will come to an end.

The Muslim should also realize that he is not the only one in this world who is affected by calamities and hardships. The Prophets (A.S.), Companions of the Prophet (S.A.W.), and the righteous people also faced such calamities during their life. Calamities and hardships are part of the natural order of things and hardly anyone is safe from them. 

The positive aspect of these afflictions is that if a believer, with the help of Allah, handles such situations with calmness and according to the teachings of the Quran and Hadith, his sins will be forgiven.

The Prophet (S.A.W.) said: 

"No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even though it were the prick he receives from a thorn." 

(Sahih Bukhari: 5640)

Remember one thing Allah has granted us this life and it is His right to take it. When we do commit suicide, we are leaving it without permission from Allah. This is why it is haram in Islam.

Allah Says in Quran:

"And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful." 

(Surah An-Nisa 4:29)

May Allah Give us the best of both worlds and save all Muslims from the torment of fire.

Ameen