Suicide:
In the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
“Verily, We have created man from Nutfah drops of mixed semen (discharge of man and woman), in order to try (to test) him, so We made him hearer, seer.” Q76:2
“The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allaah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi classified as Hasan (good) by Al-Albani in Saheeh At-Tirmidhi
According to Kevin Caruso as quoted on suicide.org “over 90 percent of people who die by suicide have a mental illness at the time of their death. And the most common mental illness is depression.”
As humans, we are on a cause, a path called destiny on which we either achieve our set objectives or we fail to achieve them due to prevailing circumstances of a powerful decree from the Lord of all that exist.
He who understands the true nature of this transient, temporary and quick-passing life will not be too excited over goals attained nor will he be too sad over things missed. Knock at the doors of every human from the kings and rulers to the paupers and beggars and you will never find a man free of problems, worries and anxiety.
Each human so described, either responds or reacts to the inevitable challenges of life; he who chooses to respond will find happiness in his sadness and he who chooses to react will find depression in his sadness.
An alarming number of people always choose to react and often at times this reaction is manifested in taking of one’s life, simply known as suicide. A painful statistics from World Health Organization will buttress the point made.
According to befrienders.org, the World Health Organization, WHO, estimates that each year approximately one million people die from suicide, which represents a global mortality rate of 16 people per 100,000 or one death every 40 seconds. It is predicted that by 2020 the rate of death will increase to one every 20 seconds.”
It is probably safe to say that we lose approximately one million people that are probably not exposed to the true definition of the life of this world. With every challenge we face is a hidden opportunity and a positive message but that is if we can be patient enough.
Experts have analyzed different causes of suicide but for the purpose of this write up, I will focus briefly on one major causes “depression”.
The verse of the Qur’an referenced above gives an insight to the fact that man was never created to live a trouble-free life, at each time he is faced with one trial or the other, he barely passes a test and their comes another curve ball until he meets his Lord Who is ever ready to reward him for his patience in the face of trials and tribulations, sorrow and grief, calamities and troubles, sadness and loneliness.
This is true for those that believe in Allaah and for those that see this temporary world as a bridge to a more permanent, consistent and everlasting life of the hereafter.
To this end there is a verse in the Qur’an that cushions the effect of depression. Allaah says (the interpretation of the meaning):
“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: ‘We believe,’ and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allaah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allaah knows all that before putting them to test)”[al-‘Ankaboot 29:2-3].
Someone said it so aptly that problems never end they only differ and what cannot be cured must be endured.
If one is troubled and wants to take his own life to put an end to his worries and sadness, the natural question would be, what informs him that he is not going to face a bigger problem when he is dead because death is not the end it is just the beginning of a journey that has no end.
It is like a man that hardly gets to eat once and being forced by the prevailing challenges decides to go to a land where there is no food at all.
My point is, suicide is never a solution to depression but a means to what is worse than depression. From the Sunnah of the Prophet (may peace be upon him) it was reported that:
“Whoever throws himself down from a mountain and kills himself will be throwing himself down in the Fire of Hell forever and ever. Whoever drinks poison and kills himself will be sipping it in the Fire of Hell forever and ever.
“Whoever kills himself with a piece of iron will have that iron in his hand, thrusting it into his belly in the Fire of Hell forever and ever.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim
So as Muslims, we know that he who takes his own soul has committed a major sin threatened with an eternal punishment in Hell. Hence, the troubles of life are there to mould us to receive greater gift from Allaah.
If one thinks that he is suffering then let him look at those below him or rather before whining and inviting depression upon himself let him try counting the countless blessings Allaah has bestowed upon him; the blessing of sanity, the blessing of existence and the blessing of being able to talk, see, feel, think and sleep.
Where lies the solution?
The Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) said:“Calamities will continue to befall believing men and women in themselves, their children and their wealth, until they meet Allaah with no burden of sin.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth al-Saheehah.
Al-Fadl ibn Sahl said: “There is a blessing in calamity that the wise man should not ignore, for it erases sins, gives one the opportunity to attain the reward for patience, dispels negligence, reminds one of blessings at the time of health, calls one to repent and encourages one to give charity.”
Scholars have said that there is no greater remedy for depression than patience and fearing Allah, and thinking positively of Allaah, putting one’s trust in Him, delegating one’s affairs to Him and turning to Him in all times of calamity.
Life is too precious to be taken because of temporary troubles. Troubles are never meant to last forever.
Mr Abdul (Penabdul) can be reached on twitter: @Penabdull; instagram: @Penabdul
, in order to try (to test) him, so We made him hearer, seer.” Q76:2. “The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial.){kind=link}