Why is suicide a sin?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

It seems that the confusion stems from the issue of Taqdeer (destiny).

Taqdeer refers to the perfect and absolute knowledge of Allah Ta’ala. Everything in this world happens according to the perfect knowledge of Allah Ta’ala and nothing can go against that. He knows everything of the past and the future.

However, Allah knowing the future of every individual is different from an individual conducting his affairs out of his own will.

According to the Ahlus Sunnah, a human being has a free will and conducts himself according to his free will. A human being is given a choice to do whatever he wishes, good or bad. It is precisely for this; he will be rewarded or punished. Whatever he will ultimately choose will be according to Taqdeer and is known by Allah Ta’ala.

The knowledge of Allah Ta’ala does not mean that Allah will impose against the wish of the individual.  

When a person commits any other sin, although Allah Ta’ala knew ahead of time that he would commit that sin, he cannot say that it was due to Taqdeer that I did the sin. He did it out of his own free will.

Similarly, suicide is a major sin, Allah Ta’ala knew ahead of time when the person will die and that he will die through his own action of committing suicide. However, a person cannot say that I want to commit suicide because it is Taqdeer.

As stated above, a human being has been given the free will to do whatever he wishes, good or bad. Yet, whatever he will choose will be according to Taqdeer and is known by Allah.

Our Ulama advise us not to delve into the aspect of Taqdeer. Allah Ta’ala has created the human mind such that it cannot comprehend all the details of Taqdeer. It is a topic that should not be discussed excessively.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Student - Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.