LIFE IS A GIFT FROM GOD: AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON SUICIDE
The recent reports on the suicide rate in the United States, where every 12 minutes someone commits suicide, is shocking, especially when celebrities and people of high profile commit suicide. This shows us that worldly achievements are not the answer for happiness. Of course there are many reasons and factors for suicide, but the most important cause according to Islamic studies not knowing the real purpose of life and oneself.
Islam has two meanings: literal and allegorical. The literal meaning is derived from the word salama, which means peace. The allegorical meaning of Islam means submission to the Will of Allah (God). Putting those ideas together, one cannot have peace in one’s heart until he/she submits to the Creator. But the question is, while we cannot see God and cannot touch Him; how can we submit? The answer lies in the fact that we should try to learn about our own selves. Where do we come from? What is the purpose of life? Why am I getting old? Why do I die? What is the purpose of death? Is death vain? As Rene Descartes, the French philosopher said, “I think, therefore I am.”
Human beings, according to Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, are a hylo-morphic entity. This means that a human being is made of spirit and matter or body. We may know a lot about the body, but not much about the spirit. Our understanding of the spirit stems from speculation rather than scientific fact.
Muslims believe that the spirit within the body is breathed by God into mankind, and the only way for solace is to remember him. “Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction” (Qur'an 13-28). Therefore, according to Islam, we find fulfillment in acknowledging our Creator as the source of all good, love, and peace in our hearts. Understanding the above allows us to recognize the purpose of our own creation and existence: to worship God.
But worshiping God is not just praying or meditating. It entails following God’s guidance based upon sound intellect and comprehension of the universal system which we are part of. This includes understanding that we have a mission in this life. According to Islam, the law of nature and the law of God are one and the same. There is only One God, one mankind, one universe and one knowledge that gives us total unity.
Hence life is a gift from God to us, that we need to enjoy, love, and blossom, for His sake. That is why suicide is haram (forbidden) in Islam and considered a sin. “Spend of your substance in the cause of God, and make not your own hand contribute to your destruction but do good, for God love those who do good” (Qur'an 2-195). Taking our life by suicide means that we have not fully understood the meaning of our life, nor our purpose of creation. Our life in this world is very temporary but our mission can be eternal for the sake of God and humanity.
Dr. Farid Younos is a retired Professor of cultural anthropology and Islamic philosophy at California State University East Bay.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of WFWP.