Suicide is a word seldom mentioned in Muslim gatherings; perhaps the political connotations make it a taboo subject. Indeed, in researching Islam and suicide, the topic of suicide bombers and martyrdom is prevalent. However, the concept of killing oneself with the intention to do harm to others in an act of ‘combat’ is beyond my scope. The purpose of this article will be to examine Islam and suicide; and suicide will be defined as an intentional self-inflicted act that leads to one’s own death.
Suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and suicide are attributed to a number of complex factors that interact and create pain and anguish as well as feelings of despair, hopelessness, and self-hatred. Among those interacting factors include mental illness (depression, mood disorders), loss of a loved one, history of trauma or abuse, stress (financial, emotional), isolation, and substance abuse[1]. There are definite suicide trends with respect to gender, age, culture, ethnicity and religion. In Canada, suicide is second to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of death for adolescents ages 10-24[2]. Teenagers whose communities are marginalized are particularly at risk[3]. For example, besides coping with physical changes and pressure associated with success at school, home and amongst their peers, Muslim youth must cope with being a visible minority and the current trend toward negative media images of Muslims. Therefore, like many young Canadians, Muslim youth are also at risk for suicide. Therefore, it’s important for parents, friends, and teachers to engage in open dialogue and communication about mental health and suicide.
In Islam, suicide is considered to be haraam (i.e., strictly prohibited). Many Quranic (Islam’s holy book) verses and Ah-Hadith (sayings, actions and recommendations of the Prophet Muhammad) strongly discourage Muslims from committing suicide. The Quran mentions “… [do not] kill (or destroy) yourselves, for surely God has been Most Merciful to you” (4:29). The Quran highlights that Muslims should remember God in times of suffering and pain and have faith and hope in God’s mercy and compassion to ease the suffering. No further examples are given here because both the Quran and Ah-Hadith require a contextual analysis in order to explore the depth and nuances of their meanings. Despite the prohibition of suicide, it is widely acknowledged that a person with a mental illness who is not fully capable of making decisions is not held accountable for his/her actions. This suggests that although suicide is prohibited, it should not be viewed as ‘black and white’, with suicidal Muslims being punished for eternity. Most Muslim scholars would attest that it is God alone who will judge the actions of each individual. Without a mental illness present, some scholars view suicide as a betrayal of one’s religion and faith in God. Accordingly, suicide is a crime punishable by the legal system in several countries where Muslims are the majority (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Pakistan)[4]. In addition, there are differences of opinion on praying at the funeral and burying a Muslim who has committed suicide. Although it is reported that the Prophet did not pray at the funeral of a man who killed himself, he did not forbid his companions from praying at the man’s funeral; this indicates a possibility for forgiveness.
In most opinions, Islam’s strong opposition to suicide is considered a deterrent. Islam prevents suicide directly, by prohibiting it and indirectly, by addressing root causes of suicide such as substance abuse, poverty, and mental/emotional well-being[5]. According to a review of the literature, religion acts as a protection against suicidal behaviour[6]. For example, it was found that spiritual communities often have higher levels of emotional well-being and religious faith and participation creates strong networks of support. Therefore, Islam acts as a protective factor against suicide. An article in InFocus News[7] discussed the experience of “Samir”, a Muslim boy diagnosed with a mental illness, who attempted suicide at 11 years old. He noted that his faith in God was paramount to his ability to cope. Samir explained that his paranoia increased without prayer and feelings of peace and tranquility were derived from direct remembrance of God. The young boy remarked that it was his knowledge that suicide is forbidden that prevented him from completing the act. On a global scale, Muslim countries have lower recorded rates of suicide than other countries[8]. However, suicide is not rare in Muslim communities[9].
InFocus News[10] also explored the experience of “Fatima”, a Muslim woman whose husband committed suicide. Fatima noted that she felt isolated and ostracized as she struggled to find someone to perform the funeral prayer for her husband. In addition, the community refused to bury him in a Muslim cemetery. Although Islam protects Muslims from suicide in a number of ways, Muslims are at risk for mental illness, loss, trauma, stress, and isolation. Therefore, it is undeniable that Muslims are at risk for suicide. Muslims in Islamic societies avoid seeking medical and psychological support for suicidal ideation because of social stigma and the concern that suicide is illegal and would therefore be reported to the authorities[11]. Perhaps the lower rates of suicide can be explained by these trends. Suicide cannot be ignored and ‘swept under the rug’ as if it does not exist in our Muslim communities. The Muslim community cannot further isolate and stigmatize individuals touched by suicide or we risk losing members of our faith.
The root cause of suicide is different for every person. The same can be said of how the individual and community deal with suicidal ideation and the aftermath of an attempt. In Samir’s case, he was guided by his understanding of the Islamic prohibitions governing suicide and did not attempt it again. In Fatima’s situation, she faced isolation from the Muslim community following her husband’s suicide. Muslims must encourage suicidal individuals, survivors of suicide attempts and family members to seek support and counselling to address the root cause of suicide and assist people with coping. In Canada, we are fortunate to have mental health and social services and support already in place in most communities. However, it is the moral and religious obligation of the Muslim community (including mosques, imams [religious leaders], local organizations) to provide professional support offering an Islamic perspective on mental well-being. We must address suicide as a legitimate and growing concern in our community.
By Asiya Baksh
For more information on risk factors and warning signs of suicide, go to:
Suicide Prevention, Awareness and Support www.suicide.org
If you or someone you know needs help coping with suicidal feelings, go to:
Canadian Mental Health Association www.cmha.ca
Centre for Suicide Prevention www.suicideinfo.ca
Bibliography
[1] The World Health Organization, Suicide Prevention (SUPRE) (World Health Organization, 2009) http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/.
[2] Canadian Mental Health Association [CMHA], Reflections on Youth Suicide (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2000): http://www.canadiancrc.com/PDFs/CMHA_mh_pamphlet_29.pdf.
[3] CMHA, Reflections on Youth Suicide, http://www.canadiancrc.com/PDFs/CMHA_mh_pamphlet_29.pdf.
[4] Robing E. Gearing and Dena Lizard, “Religion and Suicide,” Journal of Religious Health 48 (2009): 335.
[5] Mohsen Rezaeian, “Islam and Suicide: A Short Personal Communication,” Journal of Death and Dying 58 (2008): 79
[6] Gearing and Lizardi, “Religion and Suicide,” 332.
[7] Yasmin Mogahed, “Suicidal Thoughts: Suicide Rate Among Southern Calif. Muslims Increases,” InFocus News (April 2009): http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=c4fa10969cbb7ffacdab10686c8d0878
[8] quoted in Gearing and Lizardi, “Religion and Suicide,” 332.
[9] Aamer Sarfraz and David Castle, “A Muslim Suicide,” Australasian Psychiatry 10 ( 2002): 49.
[10] Yasmin Mogahed, “Suicidal Thoughts: Suicide Rate Among Southern Calif. Muslims Increases,” http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=c4fa10969cbb7ffacdab10686c8d0878.
[11] Sarfraz and Castle, “A Muslim Suicide,” 49.