#Suicide #Depression
A very difficult topic to deal with, however, I have attempted to write a brief note on the same from an Islamic perspective.
Allah created the Jinns and Humans to worship Him (Surah Dhariyat Ayah 56). By being obedient to Allah and by being an honest, compassionate, and truthful human being one fulfills the rights of worship and the rights of other human beings. In this way, even sleep becomes worship. To ascertain and demonstrate as to who is good in conduct, Allah created death and life (Surah Mulk Ayah 2). The emphasis is on the conduct i.e. demeanor and behaviour.
Each one of us is being tested in a different way. As Allah says in Surah Baqarah 155
*وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيۡءٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ وَٱلۡجُوعِ وَنَقۡصٖ مّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡوَٰلِ وَٱلۡأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ*
And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).
The Merciful Lord promises that He doesn’t burden a person beyond his potential.
(لَا یُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ) Surah Al-Baqarah 286
That’s why Allah commands:
لَا تُلۡقُوۡا بِاَیۡدِیۡکُمۡ اِلَی التَّہۡلُکَۃِ
And do not throw (yourselves) with your (own) hands into destruction (Baqarah 195).
Hence even harming oneself, let alone commmitting suicide, is _haram_ in Islam.
What is pertinent is that we recognise that hardship in any form is a part and parcel of life. Here I recall the beautiful expression of Yaqoob (AS). When he was separated from his most beloved son i.e. Yusuf (AS), he said to his other sons
اِنَّمَاۤ اَشۡکُوۡا بَثِّیۡ وَ حُزۡنِیۡۤ اِلَی اللّٰہِ
“I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah” (Surah Yusuf Ayah 86).
*What should be our attitude when facing trials and tribulations?*
Quran guides us in the following way:
ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَٰبَتۡهُم مُّصِيبَةٞ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيۡهِ رَٰجِعُونَ
Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: “Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.”
This attitude not only accepts what Allah has decreed but also acknowledges that these trials are ephemeral and the ultimate destination is with Allah, the Majestic Master of the Universe.
Allah praises this person (Baqarah Ayah 157)
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ صَلَوَٰتٞ مّن رَّبِّهِمۡ وَرَحۡمَةٞۖ وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُهۡتَدُونَ
They are those on whom are the Salawat (blessings) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones.
Umme Salamah (RA) narrates one of the gems of the Prophetic advice. The Prophet (SAW) said “When a person suffers from a calamity and utters:
‘إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا
(We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. O Allah! Compensate me in my affliction, recompense my loss and give me something better in exchange for it),
then Allah surely compensates him with reward and better substitute. (Sahih Muslim 2126).
In my humble opinion, the example of a person who commits suicide is like that of an examinee who tears his answer sheet after writing few answers. In this way, he disagrees with the destiny assigned by Allah and ruins everything.
May Allah allow us to die in a state when He is pleased with us!