This slides program explains prevalence of suicide, Islamic viewpoint in the light of Quran and Sunnah. It also highlights the factors which lead to suicidal behavior. How should suicidal person be helped and where to find help.

2. • Suicide, or self-killing, has been known throughout the
whole of recorded history
• It is found in every culture and social setting.
• It was noted in the Biblical Times within the Jewish and
Christian faiths.
• It is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita within the Hindu
faith,
• In classical Greece and Rome
• Later throughout the Middle-Ages
• In Western world and throughout the world
• Despite severe theological prohibitions, amongst
Muslims.

3. • Depression- unipolar affective disorder
• Isolation and detachment-This is not so much
physical isolation but moral insulation. Individual is
so hopeless that others cannot help him.
• Substance misuse (Drugs and alcohol)
• Loss of family or friends
• Relationship break-ups
• Financial problems
• Sickness and disability

4. • A global mortality rate of 17 per 100,000
• One death every 40 seconds from suicide
• • In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by
65% worldwide.
• • Suicide is now among the three leading causes of
death amongst those aged 14-44(both sexes)
• • Suicide attempts are up to 20 times more frequent
than completed suicide
• More people die from suicide than homicide in the USA
• Mental disorders (particularly depression and
substance abuse) are associated with more than 90% of
all causes of suicide

13. "Don't kill yourself. No doubt Allah (SWT)
is merciful and anyone who does so, will
be pushed in fire. And it is easy for Allah
(swt)." (Nisa: 4:29, 4:30)

14. "Don't' kill yourself with your own hands"
(Baqra 2:195)
If anyone killed a person not in retaliation for murder
(without just cause) or to spread mischief in the land, it would
be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it
would be as if he saved all mankind.}
(Al-Ma'idah 5:32)

15. • And do not kill the soul which Allah has
forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed
unjustly - We have given his heir authority, but let
him not exceed limits in (the matter of) taking life.
Indeed, he has been supported (Al-Isra, 17: 33).

16. • "Whoever kills himself with a weapon in this world, he
will be tortured in hell with the same weapon".
(Bukhari)
• "Whoever strangles himself with a rope, he will keep
on strangling himself until being burnt in hell. And he
who killed himself with a spear, he will keep on being
killed by spear until he is sent to hell." (Bukhari)

19. • Narrated Abu Huraira (RA):
• We were in the company of Allah's Messenger on an
expedition, and he remarked about a man who claimed to be a
Muslim, saying, “This (man) is from the people of the (Hell) Fire.”
• When the battle started, the man fought violently till he got
wounded. Somebody said, “O Allah's Apostle! The man whom
you described as being from the people of the (Hell) Fire fought
violently today and died.”
• The Prophet said, “He will go to the (Hell) Fire.” Some people
were on the point of doubting when suddenly someone said that
he was still alive but severely wounded.
• When night fell, he lost patience and committed suicide.
• The Prophet was informed of that, and he said, “Allah is Greater!
I testify that I am Allah's Slave and His Apostle.”
• Then he ordered Bilal to announce amongst the people: 'None
will enter Paradise but a Muslim, and Allah may support this
religion (i.e. Islam) even with a disobedient man.'

20. • "A hypocrite fighting along with Rasulullah (saw) was
very brave in the fight but when he was too much
hurt, he killed himself with his own sword to avoid
pain. Upon this, Rasulullah (saw) informed all that this
person goes to hell. He said that there are some who
do a few things to qualify for heaven, but they actually
qualify for nothing except hell. Similarly, there are some
whom everyone considers as going to hell, but they are
actually going to heaven." (Muslim).
• "Rasulullah said there was a person back in time who
had a painful acne and he cut his own wound whereby
a lot of blood spilled and he died. Allah (swt) said
"Heaven is forbidden to him". (Muslim)

22. • Fatwa in Durre- Mukhtar: "Although one who
commits suicide, will burn in hell forever, but the
deceased was a Muslim before doing this act and
• He will be buried as per normal Muslim traditions.
• Such a person will be given Ghusl, Janaza Salah and
burial in a Muslim cemetery as is the case with any
other sinful Muslim

23. • The person who commits suicide in the hope that
after he has destroyed his self and its desires he
would escape the agony of life in the form of total
annihilation,
• He will find as soon as he passes through the gate
of death that there is an everlasting life ahead and
not mortality
• Where he has to explain as to why he had been
straining every nerve to destroy the self that he had
been blessed with instead of developing and
adorning it in every possible way.
• Tafsir “Tafhimul Quran, Surah Zariaat. Exp note #9”

24. • A person who has killed himself should be washed,
prayed over and buried with the Muslims, because
he is a sinner but he is not a kafir (disbeliever).
• If the Khalifah, ruler, judges, president or mayor do
not pray over him in order to denounce this action
and announce that it is wrong, then this is good,
but some of the Muslims should still offer the
(funeral) prayer for him
• (Kitaab Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat
Mutanawwi’ah- Vol 13 Page 122)

25. • Suicide is when a person kills himself intentionally by
whatever means. This is haram and regarded as
amongst the major sins, and likewise included in the
general statement of Allah (SWT):
• And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his
recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the Wrath and
the Curse of Allah are upon him, and a great
punishment is prepared for him}, [Nisaa, 93].
• And it is established from the Sunnah on the authority
of the Prophet (SAW) who said:
• Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills himself, then
certainly he will be punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein
he shall dwell forever)), [Bukharee and Muslim)
• (Kayfa Nu'aalij Waaqi'unaa al-Aleem - Page 120)

26. • “To my knowledge so-called 'suicide missions' do not
have any legal basis in Islam and do not constitute a
form of Jihad.
• I fear that they are nothing but a form of suicide, and
suicide is also prohibited in Islam.”
• Those who commit such atrocities in the name of
religion are wrong.
• They can find no support for their actions in our creed.
• Nor can those who explode themselves and others
indiscriminately in shopping centers, theaters or houses
of worship find any justification in the faith’s pristine
teachings.

27. • “Even in times of war, Muslims are not allowed to
kill anybody save the one who is indulged in face-toface confrontation with them.”
• “They are not allowed to kill women, old
persons, or children, and that haphazard killing is
totally forbidden in Islam.”
• Shaykh Qaradāwī on another occasion defined
terrorism as “the killing of innocent people...with
no differentiation between the innocent and the
foe.

28. • “Muslim should only fight those who fight him;
children, women and the elderly must be spared.”
• Therefore terrorism and its crime against civilians is
impermissible under any interpretation of Islamic
law.
• This ruling does not change based on geographical
locality.

29. • Targeting civilians life and property through suicide bombings
or any other method of attack is haram or forbidden - and
those who commit these barbaric acts are criminals, not
martyrs.
• The Quran, Islam’s revealed text, states: “Whoever kills a
person [unjustly]it is as though he has killed all mankind. And
whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all
mankind.” (Quran, 5:32)
• Prophet Muhammad said there is no excuse for committing
unjust acts: “Do not be people without minds of your own,
saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well,
and that if they do wrong you will do wrong to them. Instead,
accustom yourselves to do good if people do good and not to
do wrong (even) if they do evil.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

30. • Recognize that a person who commits suicide is
forbidden paradise.
• Be sure to talk to your local Imam if you feel
suicidal.
• The imam should generally not be judgmental in his
response. The imam, should, however, show or
quote to you the above hadith or similar rulings, at
least so you know the consequences on your soul.
• Seek out the Islamic counsel that is there to guide
and encourage you on the right path, not the
perceived easy path.

31. • Say, "astagherAllah wa atubu alaihi" (May Allah have
mercy on me and accept my repentance) 100 times a
day, as was a Sunnah of Prophet (SAW).
• When fearful, say "La ilaha ill Allah" (there is no deity
but Allah).
• If someone expresses suicidal thoughts to you, it is
important that you warn him or her of the
consequences.
• Do not kill yourself. Seek Allah's Mercy, for surely Allah
(SWT) is All Merciful. Humbly seek the help of your
Lord.
• Remember... Allah (SWT) sees everything we do and
we are going to be held accountable.

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Depression
Anxiety
Hopelessness
Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
Substance use/abuse
Previous suicide attempt or previous thoughts of killing
oneself
Coping style in which problems are kept inside/unexpressed
Low self-esteem and lack of self-efficacy
Feelings of loneliness, guilt, shame, or inadequacy
Academic concerns

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Financial concerns
Conflicts with friends, roommates, peers, or partner
Recent loss (e.g., death or breakup)
Social isolation, particularly from family or spiritual community
Conflict with parents about choice of academic major, career, or
dating partner
Marriage pressures (arranged or otherwise)
Decrease in structure (including personal behavior and social
interactions)
History of physical or sexual abuse
Family history of depression and/or suicide
Easy access to firearms or other lethal methods
Unwillingness to seek help because of shame in seeking mental
health services
Lack of access to mental health care

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Strong self-esteem
Sense of personal control
Impulse control
Coping skills
Social skills (i.e., communication skills, anger management, etc.)
Hope for the future, optimism
Reasons for living
A healthy lifestyle, including healthy eating, restful sleep, and exercise
A healthy fear of risky behaviors and pain
Sobriety
Medical compliance and a sense of the importance of health and wellness
Attitudes, values, and norms prohibiting suicide
Cultural, religious, or spiritual beliefs that discourage suicide
Being happily partnered
Being a parent
Willingness to seek help and access mental health services

35. • Strong connections to friends, family, and supportive
significant others
• Strong social-support network
• Responsibilities/duties to others
• Pets
• Opportunities to participate in and contribute to school
and/or community projects/activities
• A reasonably safe and stable living environment
• Spiritual well-being
• Religious involvement
• Restricted access to firearms or other lethal methods
• Access to physical and mental health services

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Experiences feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
Reports feeling very depressed
Experiences anxiety and/or stress
Increases their use of alcohol and/or other drugs
Engages in reckless behaviors
Has physical symptoms
Withdraws from family, community, or friends, and from activities
once enjoyed
Says things such as, “I don’t deserve to be here,” “I wish I were
dead,” “I am going to kill myself,” or “I want to die.”
Is focused on death and dying
Talks about wanting to commit suicide
Writes poems, letters, or stories about death and/or suicide
Starts giving away possessions
Prepares for death by making out a will

37. • Academic problems: inattentive, missed classes,
incomplete assignments, failed exams and courses
• Relationship problems: conflicts with parents,
roommates, friends, or partners; social or spiritual
isolation
• Risky behaviors: violent or aggressive behavior,
unprotected sexual practices, alcohol and other
drug abuse, driving under the influence
• Physical symptoms: muscular tension, insomnia,
stomach aches, other physical complaints

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Listen and accept the other person’s feelings
Express your care and concern
Be empathetic
Try not to judge or argue
Do not allow yourself to be sworn to secrecy
Don’t act shocked by their plans
Never dare someone to kill themselves
Offer to go with the person to seek help from his or her
parents, partner, or other family members, friends, a
counselor, spiritual leader, or other source of support
• If possible, do not leave the person alone
• Seek support or advice from others

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Counseling Center
Resident Advisers
Office of Multicultural Programs and Services
Imams
Campus Security
Family Members
Friends
Crisis Line

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National Suicide Prevention Hotline
1.800.273.TALK (8255)
Georgia Crisis and Access Line
1.800.715.4225
National Hope line Network
1.800.SUICIDE (784.2433)
911 or nearest emergency room
Emory Muslim Student Association
students.emory.edu/MSA/Site/Welcome.html
• Islamic Society of North America
isna.net/
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
afsp.org/
• The Jed Foundation
jedfoundation.org/