SPIRIT OF ISLAM MARCH 2O18

15 Spirit of Islam Issue 63 March 2018 SUICIDE An Islamic Perspective O NE of the websites gives the following information about the most common reasons for suicide. A sense of burden — Would my loved ones be better off without me?; a sense of emotional pain — There is so much suffering in my life; escaping negative feelings — Is death the answer to ending this pain?; altered social world — Is death the answer to my troublesome social relationships?; and hopelessness — Is there evidence that life is going to get any better? Suicide is held illegal in all religions and legal systems of the world. There is a teaching of the Prophet of Islam according to which one who committed suicide would have to face eternal Hell. A Companion of the Prophet narrated the following incident: “We were accompanying the Prophet in a ghazwa (battle). Along with us was person named Quzman who had already embraced the faith. During the battle he suffered a serious injury. People began to praise him before the Prophet for the bravery he had exhibited. But the Prophet said “He is surely one of the people of Hell”. The Companions were taken aback by the Prophet’s words, so he asked them to go and investigate the matter. It was then learnt that Quzman had indeed been severely injured during the battle and when he could not bear the pain any longer, he killed himself with his own weapon (Quzman’s case was that of suicide). When the Prophet was told about this, he uttered these words: “God is great and I bear witness that I am His messenger”. After knowing what Islam has to say about committing suicide, it is very important to understand that if one were to prevent people from committing such an act one should have an alternative to present to them; a rational explanation to pain, emotional distress, helplessness, failure, and a hope for the better world, so that they can face the challenge and not think of ending their life as a solution. The creation plan provided by Islam gives an explanation to why we face these challenges in this world. In the Quran God says: Discovery of God and conviction that He is the All-powerful and that He has a plan for us will remove all kinds of hopelessness from us. In this vast universe, it is God who is man's support.