Why committing suicide is forbidden?

A: Allah Taãla, our Creator, has granted us life and sent us to this world to test our submission to Him. During this test various conditions come upon a person. Allah Taãla says, "Do people think We will leave them saying 'we believe' and they will not be tested. Verily we have tested the people in the past so that the truthful are known and the liars are known." (Ankaboot 2-3).

In another Aayat, Allah Taãla says, "Verily we will test you with fear, hunger, and by decrease in wealth, lives and fruits (crops). Glad tidings for the patient ones who (at the time of adversities) say, "Verily we belong to Allah and to Him we return." (Baqarah 155 - 156).

Furthermore, Allah Taãla has also promised relief after difficulties, He says, "Verily with every difficulty there is relief." (Nashrah 6 - 7)

The solution to the different frustrations in life is not taking one's life but to be patient and seek assistance from Allah directly. One should also ask the pious to make Du'a for one. Taking one's life is strictly prohibited. Such a person will be continuously punished in the hereafter in the manner he had taken his life. Thus, escaping from one temporary problem, he places himself into a permanent problem from where there is no escape.

Life is a trust from Allah and such a person who breaches the trust of Allah will be held in contempt even in this world i.e. the Ulama and leaders of the community should not attend his Janaaza. The punishment in the Hereafter is more severe.

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai