Suicidal thoughts

Q: I'm writing to you because I really need answers to my question. About 3 years ago it started, I felt anxious and depressed, often thought about suicide. And it's been happening so far. I don't know what to do. I just feel hopeless, think about suicide a lot, even did self harm. I mean I wanted to cut my wrist. I want to die so bad, I really need help, what can I do? What should I ask from God that helps me to feel okay?

A: Suicide is a major sin in Islam. Severe warnings have been sounded in the Mubaarak Ahaadith for the one who perpetrates this grave sin. It is reported in the Hadith that the one who takes his life through committing suicide, then until Allah Ta'ala does not forgive him, his punishment in the fire of jahannum will be that he will continue to inflict the same type of pain upon himself and continue to experience the agony and pain. 

You should understand that committing suicide will not save you from the difficulty and hardship you are experiencing, instead it will only increase your agony and pain. The one who gives up hope in life and takes his life by committing suicide is in actual fact jumping from the frying pan into the fire. He is trying to save himself from the trivial worldly hardships through killing himself, but becomes deserving of the wrath of Allah Ta’ala and the severe punishment of the hereafter. 

You should thank Allah Ta'ala for allowing you to live as life is a great bounty of Allah Ta'ala, and through life, one will be able to prepare for the hereafter. You should sincerely repent to Allah Ta'ala for trying to commit suicide and make a firm resolve that you will never repeat this sin in the future. 

We advise you to reserve some time daily to recite the Quraan Majeed, make zikr, recite durood shareef and istighfaar and make taleem of fazaail aamaal and fazaail sadaqaat for at least ten minutes in the morning and evening.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)