What does Islam say about suicide and euthanasia?
According to Islam, all life is sacred. Deliberate and calculated suicide is considered a total lack of faith in God. To kill oneself is just as forbidden as to commit murder, and is a sign of ingratitude towards God. Muslims believe that God tests people in this life, yet does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. To persevere in times of distress and to call upon God for comfort and strength is an important element in the Muslim lifestyle and worldview. Ultimately, Muslims are to call upon God’s infinite Mercy and seek an appropriate solution to life’s dilemmas. “And most certainly shall We try by means of danger, and hunger, and loss of worldly goods, of lives and of (labor’s) fruits. But give glad tidings unto those who are patient in adversity.” (Qur’an, 2:155). Euthanasia, the practice of terminating someone’s life to end their perceived suffering, is not permissible in Islam (cases where the physical body is being kept alive through artificial means are another matter). Mus
