As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

My son took his life by committing suicide. I know this is a big sin to Allah but my son became too depress that he was not able to handle the problem that he has. I want to know what kind of prayer I can do for the forgiveness of this sin that he has committed. One brother told me that it is between my son and Allah if he will be forgiven or not. I know he will received his punishment but eventually he will be forgiven to what he has done to his life. My son is a good person. He never had a fight with any one and he has lot of friends who love and like him. But his personality is too weak to accept challenges in life. I am always praying that Allah will forgive him and will allow him to enter paradise.

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Answer:

Praying for the forgiveness of the Suicider

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisa verse 29-30: And do not kills yourselves; believe it that Allah is Compassionate to you. We shall throw into the Fire the one who commits such acts of aggression and injustice; and this is very easy for Allah.

From the above aayah of the Glorious Quran, it is evident that killing oneself with his own hands or committing suicide is a grave sin in Islam.   The question is:  are we allowed to made dua or supplication for the forgiveness of such a person who commits this act of aggression or injustice to himself?

The simple answer is yes.   We are allowed to make dua and supplication for any person, even though one may commit such a great sin as suicide.   The only people we are not allowed to make dua or supplication for Allah’s forgiveness, is the one who leaves this world while committing the abominable sin of ‘shirk’ (associating or invoking others with Allah). These are the only people we are not allowed to make dua or supplication for in Islam

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 113: It does not behove the Prophet and those who have believed, to pray for the forgiveness of the ‘mushriks’ (the ones who associate or invoke others with Allah), even though they be near relatives, when it has become clear to them that they deserve Hell.

Thus apart from the ‘mushriks’, we are allowed to pray and make supplication for any other person, even though they may be guilty of grave sins.   Allah is very Forgiving, very Merciful.  The only sin that He does not forgive is the abominable sin of ‘shirk’.  Allah has declared in the Holy Quran that he has made Paradise haraam for the people who associate or invoke other beings with Allah.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 72: Whoever commits ‘shirk’ (invoking anything with Allah), Allah shall forbid for him Paradise,  and Hell shall be his abode.  And for such wrong doers there will be no one to help.

In the time of the Messenger of Allah (saws), one of the muslims in Medina committed suicide.   The Prophet (saws) himself did not attend his funeral prayers, but allowed the other muslims to pray his ‘janaza’.  He did not forbid the other muslims praying and invoking Allah for the forgiveness of the person who committed suicide.   The reason the Prophet (saws) himself did not pray the ‘janaza’, was to let the believers know that it was a grave sin indeed, and that Allah and His Messenger (saws) do not approve the act of ‘suicide’.

And Allah Alone Knows Best, and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is only ones. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brothers and well wishers in Islam,

Members of Islamhelpline