Taking one's life due to mental illness
Question
I think there is a Hadith which speaks very harshly of people who take their lives - that they will go to jahannam and if am not mistaken no ghusl is done for them. But what about people who suffer from mental illness and this causes them to take their lives? Are they too viewed harshly in our Shariah? Jazakallah for taking the time to consider my question?
Answer
If they were insane or they were not in their senses, they will not be held responsible.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال رفع القلم عن ثلاثة عن النائم حتى يستيقظ وعن الصغير حتى يكبر وعن المجنون حتى يعقل أو يفيق (سنن ابن ماجه #2041)
- Answered by
- Mufti Zakaria Makada
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
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