How will a mentally ill person be judged?

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

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

There are various types and stages of mental illnesses. A blanket ruling cannot be passed for all mental illnesses. Each person’s condition will have to be assessed and a ruling passed on an individual basis. 

This is with regards to the laws of this world is concerned. As for the Hereafter, one should keep in mind that Allah Ta’ala is Al-Adil, The Most Just. He will never take anyone to task for what is beyond his capability. 

Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ رُفِعَ الْقَلَمُ عَنْ ثَلاَثَةٍ عَنِ النَّائِمِ حَتَّى يَسْتَيْقِظَ وَعَنِ الصَّبِيِّ حَتَّى يَحْتَلِمَ وَعَنِ الْمَجْنُونِ حَتَّى يَعْقِلَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رضى الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم زَادَ فِيهِ ‏"‏ وَالْخَرِفِ ‏"‏  

Translation: Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) reports that Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: There are three (persons) whose actions are not recorded: a sleeping person until he awakes, a child until he reaches puberty, and an insane person until he comes to his senses … (another narration adds): "and an old man who is feeble-minded."(Abu Dawud 4403)[i] 

Furthermore, Allah Ta’ala is Zul-Fadl, The Most Gracious. He forgives and rewards through His Grace. May Allah Ta’ala make it easy for each and every one of us and shower us with His infinite Grace and Mercy. Ameen.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai