Suicide and Islam Essay Example

Suicide and Islam Essay The concept of suicide especially in Islam has suddenly become the focus of discussion in and around the Islamic world. This is mainly because of suicide bombings carried out around the world in the name of Jihad or ‘holy war†.   When people are willing to risk their lives to save their religion, one would be curious to know what the religion says about suicide. Suicide for any purpose is prohibited in Islam. Quran says, â€Å"Do not put yourself to destruction with your own hands† (2:195). A Tradition of the Prophet Muhammad says, â€Å"And if somebody commits suicide with anything in this world, he will be tortured with that very thing on the Day of Resurrection.† Suicide bombing involves killing oneself as well as others. So it is doubly condemned† (Arshed, 2006). According to the Sunnah, any person who dies by suicide and shows no regret for his wrongdoing will spend an eternity in hell re-enacting the act by which he took his own life.Islam Cher ishes Life:Islam cherishes the gift of life. According to the teachings of Prophet Mohammed, the most precious gift of Allah is life. For instance, in one verse of the Quraan, Allah says: He has forbidden you only the carrion (flesh of dead animals), and blood, and flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols, on which Allah’s Name has not been mentioned whilst slaughtering). But if one is forced by necessity without willful disobedience or transgressing due limits, then there is no sin on him. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.(Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 173)In the closing stages of this verse Allah talks about one who is forced to consume Haraam (unlawful) items (such as alcohol, blood, etc) due to the fear of death. Allah says, and then there is no sin in him. For example, one is in severe hunger, such hunger that could lead to ones death, he consumes something that is Haraam (unlawful) e.g. Ca rrion, on the Day of Judgment he will not be questioned regarding these Haraam (Unlawful) items he consumed in order to save his life. Similarly one is fasting in the Month of Ramadan and severe thirst over-takes him, again it is permissible for him to break his fast in order to saves ones life. Even if he broke the fast by consuming Haraam (Unlawful) fluids e.g. Blood, Alcohol he will not be questioned regarding this. From this verse we can undoubtedly acknowledge how precious and valuable life is in the eyes of The Almighty Allah.The Quraan and Suicide:There are a few quite specific sanctions expressed in the Quraan against self-killing. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also assigns suicide to the lower levels of Hell.Allah says explicitly in the Quraan, And do not kill yourselves. Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you. (Surah An-Nisa Verse 29)In another verse of the Quraan, Allah says: And do not throw yourselves in destruction. (Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 195) (Inter-Islam, 2001). The imp act of this injunction still has considerable force in Islamic countries, and it may be one reason why, with the exception of Jordan and Turkey, there is no recorded suicide in national statistics of the Islamic Nations. But, in the last decade or so there has been a substantial increase of suicide in Muslims living in Non-Muslim countries, namely Britain and America (Inter-Islam, 2001).Prophet Muhammad (SAW) mentioned suicide many times, a few of these incidents are recorded in Muhammad Ibn Ismaels, Sahih Al-Bukhari. ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In one incident narrated by Thabit bin Ad-Dahhak (RA): the Prophet (SAW) said, Whoever intentionally swears falsely by a religion other than Islam, then he is what he has said, and whoever commits suicide with a piece of iron, he will be punished with the same piece of iron in the Hell-fire. ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Narrated by Jundub: The Prophet (SAW) said, A man was inflicted with wounds and he committed suicide, and so Allah said: My slave has caused death on himself hurriedly, so I forbid Paradise for him†. ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA): The Prophet (SAW) said, He who commits suicide by throttling shall keep on throttling himself in the Hell-fire, and he who commits suicide by stabbing himself, he shall keep stabbing himself in the Hell-fire.From the sayings of Allah and his Prophet (SAW), we can see suicide is not accepted in Islam. More directly, the Quran says: [do not] kill yourselves, for truly Allah has been to you Most Merciful.   If any do that in rancor and injustice, soon shall We cast him into the Fire (Quran 4:29-30). The taking of life is allowed only by way of justice (i.e. the death penalty for murder), but even then, forgiveness is better.   Nor take life which Allah has made sacred except for just cause (17:33).Justifying suicide attacks (Estishad):A trend of growing extremism has been observed in remarks by Moslem religious leader s regarding suicide attacks.   It appears that suicide attacks will be called for not just out of political need, but will receive religious support and legitimization. Because suicide is prohibited in Islam as it is in Judaism, religious leaders do not use the term suicide, but martyrdom (shahid). Sheikh Al Azhar Muhammad Saad Tantawi makes this distinction clearly: One who blows himself up among enemies, in order to defend his land, is considered a martyr. (Egyptian newspaper Alwafd 27/4/96). Tantawi differentiates between acts of self-sacrifice, as when someone blows himself up in a crowd of people, which is permitted as long as it is directed against enemies who have adopted a terrorist and inhumane regime, and between the prohibited act, i.e. when it is directed against civilians, children, or innocent, unarmed people, who did not lift a weapon or behave with violence or terrorism (IMFA, 1997). The Syrian Mufti Kaftaro: The prophet Mohammed ruled that death in battle is not suicide†¦.The fedaai acts are considered acts of falling in battle, which are legitimate in Islam because they are carried out in the name of Allah and in order to drive the heavy oppression from our land†. In an interview on Almanar television (29/8), Nassrallah stated on the same topic: We retain the option of suicide acts. These must occur when we have a goal that cannot be achieved except by this method. Thus we find that according to some Muslim leaders, suicide attacks are legitimate within the framework of Islam (IMFA, 2006).The case of Pakistan:It has been found that six in ten Pakistanis support suicide attacks against enemies of Islam. Going by a January 2005 survey report prepared by the Washington-based PEW Research Centre, though most people in Muslim-dominated nations are divided over violence against civilian targets, 41 percent of those interviewed in Pakistan said it was justifiable in the defense of Islam. Though Islam disapproves suicide Islamic extremi sts have gotten around this problem by describing suicide attacks as acts of martyrdom (Mir, 2006).Islam and Jihad:Regarding Jihad, Islam says: And fight in the way of Allah those who fight you.   But do not transgress limits.   Truly Allah loves not the transgressors.- Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah (2:190). Suicide attacks of Islamic militants in the name of Jihad can be seen as a kind of oppression (Sarathy, 2003). In this context, it is fair to note that the Quran admonishes those who oppress others and transgress beyond the bounds of what is right and just. The blame is only against those who oppress men with wrongdoing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice.   For such there will be a chastisement grievous (in the Hereafter) (42:42). Harming innocent bystanders, even in times of war, was forbidden by the Prophet Muhammad.   This includes women, children, noncombatant bystanders, and even trees and crops.   Nothing is to be harmed unless the person or thing is actively engaged in an assault against Muslims (Huda, 2006).Quranic evidences supporting suicide attacks:The history of Islam is full of heroic and sacrificial events. It is narrated by Abu Dawood through one of the Prophets companions, he said: we mounted an attacked on a part of Hunain, one of us followed an unbeliever to kill him, by a mistake killed himself. The prophet (s.a.w.) said: O, Muslims your brother. We rushed to check him, but found him dead. The Prophet (s.a.w.) wrapped him with his own clothes and his blood on him, then performed the prayer of the dead, the Prophets companions asked: is he a martyr? He said: he is, and I am a witness. Therefore, the one who blows up the enemies of Allah by killing himself cannot be considered a suicide, and he is, Allah willing, a martyr (Ruqaiyah, 1996). Some Quranic verses need to be quoted here to examine the scope of Jihad ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Allah says: and some people would give aw ay their lives to gain Allahs contentment. Allah is compassionate to his servants. ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   And fight in Allahs cause against those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression — for verily Allah does not love aggressors (2:190); And slay them wherever you may come upon them, and drive them away from wherever they drove you away, for oppression is even worse than killing (2:191); Hence, fight against them until there is no more oppression and all worship is devoted to Allah alone (2:193). Any believer who has the means and strength to stand up and resist oppression is encouraged to fight against it until it is quelled. While it is accepted that killing is evil, yet it is enjoined to crush a bigger evil of oppression (Ruqaiyah, 1996).Conclusion: Thus we find that in Islam, suicide is forbidden when it committed as an act of individual failure. However, when it is done in the name of Allah and the Islamic world, it is legitimized as seen by the Quranic evidences and the words of the Moslem leaders.