Reminder and condemnation

Concerning the events and suicides happening in the nation

All praise is due to Allah Alone, and peace and blessing be upon the one after whom there is no prophet, upon his Family, his Companions and those who follow him till the Day of Judgment.

Allah سبحانه وتعالى has honored the sons of Adam by enjoining them to worship and obey Him, preferred them to many of His creatures and gave them the best and the most complete forms; Allah عز وجل says:

﴿لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الإِنْسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ﴾ [التين: 4].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾Verily, We created man in the best stature (mould)﴿ [At-Tîn (The Fig): 4].

Allah تعالى says also:

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الإِنْسَانُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ الْكَرِيمِ. الَّذِي خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّاكَ فَعَدَلَكَ. فِي أَيِّ صُورَةٍ مَا شَاءَ رَكَّبَكَ﴾ [الانفطار: 6-8].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾O man! What has made you careless about your Lord, the Most Generous? Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion. In whatever form He willed, He put you together﴿ [Al-Infitâr (The Cleaving): 6-8].

And says:

﴿وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلاً﴾ [الإسراء: 70].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with At-Tayyibât (lawful good things), and have preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked preferment﴿ [Al-Isrâ' (The Night Journey): 70].

Allah ordered them also to keep this benediction and to not wrong themselves; He says:

﴿وَلاَ تَقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا﴾ [النساء: 29].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allâh is Most Merciful to you﴿ [An-Nissâ' (The Women): 29].

And He says:

﴿وَلاَ تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ﴾ [البقرة: 195].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾…and do not throw yourselves into destruction (by not spending your wealth in the Cause of Allâh)﴿ [Al-Baqara (The Cow): 195].

So, how great the One Who created everything and proportioned it is!

The sharia has instituted a severe punishment against the one who commits suicide; Jundub Ibn `Abd Allâh رضي الله عنه said, “The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says, “Amongst the nations before you, there was a man who got wounded. Being impatient with pain, he took a knife and cut his hand. The blood did not stop till he died. Allah said, “My slave hurried to bring death upon himself. So, I have forbidden him [to enter] paradise”⁽¹⁾. His punishment on the Day of Judgment will be as equal as the means with which he kills himself in the worldly life, as it is stated in the hadith reported by Thâbit Ibn Adh-Dhahâk رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says, “…If somebody commits suicide with anything in this world, he will be tortured with that very thing on the Day of Judgment…”⁽²⁾. Abu Hurayra narrated also that the Prophet صلى اللهُ عليه وآله وسَلَّم says, “Whoever throws himself purposely from a mountain and is killed will be in the [Hell] Fire falling down into it wherein he will live perpetually forever. Whoever drinks poison and kills himself with it will be carrying his poison in his hand and drinking it in the [Hell] Fire wherein he will remain eternally. Whoever kills himself with an iron weapon will be carrying that weapon in his hand with which he will be stabbing his abdomen in the [Hell] Fire wherein he will stay eternally”⁽³⁾.

In addition, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم renounced to offer the funeral prayer for the suicide by way of punishment for him and to dissuade the others from doing such act. Jâbir Ibn Samura رضي الله عنه said, “Once, [the dead body of] a man who committed suicide with a long narrow bladed-arrow was brought to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, but he did not offer the funeral prayer for him”⁽⁴⁾.

This being said, committing suicide becomes more horrible if the Muslim does it by the fire. In fact, it is known that none should punish with the fire except the Lord of the fire, according to the hadith where the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says, “…because, none should punish with the fire except the Lord of the fire”⁽⁵⁾.

Allah عز وجل instituted for the man the different straight ways, in order to preserve his life, keep his uprightness and guarantee his success; Allah عز وجل says:

﴿أَيَحْسَبُ الإِنْسَانُ أَنْ يُتْرَكَ سُدًى﴾ [القيامة: 36].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾Does man think that he will be left neglected (without being punished or rewarded for the obligatory duties enjoined by his Lord Allâh on him)?﴿ [Al-Qiyâma (The Resurrection): 36].

Allah also says :

﴿وَمَا كُنَّا عَنِ الْخَلْقِ غَافِلِينَ﴾ [المؤمنون: 17].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾ …and We are never unaware of the creation﴿ [Al-Mu'minûn (The Believers): 17].

Allah orders him to seek for what may benefit him in the present life and in the hereafter, and to keep away from what may harm him by doing what displeases Allah; Allah تعالى says:

﴿فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا مِنْ رِزْقِهِ وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ﴾ [الملك: 15].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾ …so walk in the path thereof and eat of His provision. And to Him will be the Resurrection﴿ [Al-Mulk (The Dominion): 15].

Allah prevents the man from despair and hopelessness and informs him that these attributes are inherent to perverted people and says:

﴿وَلاَ تَيْأَسُوا مِنْ رَوْحِ اللهِ إِنَّهُ لاَ يَيْأَسُ مِنْ رَوْحِ اللهِ إِلاَّ الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ﴾ [يوسف: 87].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾and never give up hope of Allâh’s Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allâh’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve﴿ [Yûssuf (Joseph): 87].

And says:

﴿قَالَ وَمَنْ يَقْنَطُ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّهِ إِلاَّ الضَّالُّونَ﴾ [الحجر: 56].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾[Ibrâhîm (Abraham)] said: "And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?﴿ [Al-Hidjr (The Rocky Tract): 56].

This being said, the website administration of sheikh Abu `Abd Al-Mu`iz Muhammad `Ali Farkûs – may Allah protect him – condemns strongly the lowly and degraded forms created by the modern civilization, i.e. committing suicide and destroying the human bodies by burning them alive as a fatal solution and a desperate expression of indignation towards the political and social conditions. This has been – recently – adopted by some persons of ours in imitation of the initiators, because of their difficult living conditions; these latter have negative effects on their deteriorated selves. This event (committing suicide) has been followed with destructions, pillage and mischief, though Allah عز وجل says:

﴿ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَسَادَ﴾ [البقرة: 205].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾ …and Allâh likes not mischief﴿ [Al-Baqara (The Cow): 205].

Indeed, the blind dependence to the modern civilization in destructing bodies, shedding blood, killing the selves and adopting suicides as a means of reprobation contradict the teachings, the creed, the rulings and the morals of our noble religion. In fact, one should not aspire to reach a good end through prohibited means; the ends, whatever their importance may be, do not justify the means whatsoever; because it is stated in the [Islamic] rules that “The end does not justify the means”.

However, accustoming the young Muslims to such ugly imported moralities hurts and pains significantly the hearts. And regardless of those who are behind these events and provide the Islamic peoples with such reprobated means, the website administration team reminds everyone that it is the duty of the Muslim to be patient when something affects him while he is not the cause of it. He should not worry or give up hope of Allah’s mercy; he should consider the destiny and not regret the past; he should rather know, “That what he had befallen him would not have missed him, and what had missed him would not have befallen him”⁽⁶⁾. He should abide by piety and patience and seek Allah’s pardon, because they are the keys of good and benediction; Allah عز وجل says:

﴿وَإِنْ تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الأُمُورِ﴾ [آل عمران: 186].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾But if you persevere patiently, and become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious) then verily, that will be a determining factor in all affairs (and that is from the great matters which you must hold on with all your efforts)﴿ [Âl `Imrân (The Family of `Imrân): 186].

Allah عز وجل also says:

﴿وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا. وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَحْتَسِبُ﴾ [الطلاق: 2-3].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty), and He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine﴿ [At-Talâq (The Divorce): 2-3].

And says:

﴿إِنَّهُ مَنْ يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ﴾ [يوسف: 90].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾Verily, he who fears Allâh with obedience to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds), and is patient, then surely, Allâh makes not the reward of the Muhsinûn (good-doers) to be lost﴿ [Yûssuf (Joseph): 90].

And says:

﴿فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللهِ حَقٌّ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنْبِكَ﴾ [غافر: 55].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾So be patient (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). Verily, the Promise of Allâh is true, and ask forgiveness for your fault﴿ [Ghâfir (The Forgiving): 55].

And as some people of knowledge state it, the Muslim should consider the destiny in afflictions and ask Allah’s pardon if he commits sins.

This being said, one is enjoined to make efforts [in all his affairs] and give up laziness while asking Allah’s help and being patient. In fact, making efforts conforms to the sharia and giving it up contradicts the sharia and wisdom and constitutes a lack in reason; the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says, “Observe that which gives you benefit and seek help from Allah and do not be lazy”⁽⁷⁾.

We remind also that in addition to the fact that the Muslim, on one hand, should obey the rulers in good, the rulers should, on another hand, lead the nation by the revealed truth, revive it with Islam and rescue it from injustice, atheism, pillage of wealth and violation of rights, in addition to other shameful and evil things. Meanwhile, they should spread justice and security in pursuing the duty of piety, spread justice all over their countries after injustice had been spread all over them. Indeed, Allah brings those who follow the divine way out of the lowest levels and gives them supremacy on earth, and they will be the leaders and instructors of the world; Allah تعالى says:

﴿وَعَدَ اللهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لاَ يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ﴾ [النور: 55].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾Allâh has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieves after this, they are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh)﴿ [Al-Nûr (The Light): 55].

Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Algiers, Safar 13^th 1432 H
Corresponding to: January 17^th, 2011