Is the person who committed suicide will enter Hell Fire straight?‏

Assalamualikum wr wb

Dear readers

Although suicide is strictly forbidden in Islam, the reality is, it's quite common even among Muslims especially in comparatively poor nations. The consequences of such an act as punishment from Allah (SWT) is straight Hellfire as I used to know. The view is supported by  a number of authentic Bukhari hadith. For examples, 

Hadith - Bukhari 2:446 Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "He who commits suicide by throttling shall keep on throttling himself in the Hell Fire (forever) and he who commits suicide by stabbing himself shall keep on stabbing himself in the Hell-Fire

Hadith - Bukhari 7:670, Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "Whoever purposely throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, will be in the (Hell) Fire falling down into it and abiding therein perpetually forever; and whoever drinks poison and kills himself with it, he will be carrying his poison in his hand and drinking it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever; and whoever kills himself with an iron weapon, will be carrying that weapon in his hand and stabbing his abdomen with it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever.

Also committing suicide is a clear violation of the quranic verse, " And do not kill yourselves, surely God is most Merciful to you." (4:29).

However, reading some of the suicide stories in newspapers, I struggled to come to terms with the view I held that 'a person committing suicide will enter Hell Fire straight" and have realized that there must be a better explanation of these suicide related Hadiths and the widely held view. And today, I have found the best explanation in this regard so far by brother Adil Salahi and therefore would like to share this with you. Please see below:

Wassalam

-Hasan Shaheed

Committing Suicide Is Strictly Forbidden in Islam

Adil Salahi

Arab News, 6/22/04

Q. It is said that suicide is forbidden in Islam and that the person who commits suicide is destined to go to hell. Suppose a person is suffering from a severe case of depression, or some other mental disease. Should such a person commit suicide, will he also go to hell?

(Name and address withheld)

A. One thing which people often do is to say that such and such a person will definitely go to heaven or to hell. This is something over which none other than God has any control. So to suggest that such a person goes here or there in the hereafter is an affront to God, because it precipitates His judgment.

There are certain verses of the Qur’an and statements by the Prophet (peace be upon him) which tell us that those who perpetrate certain sins will be punished. But then it is up to God to determine what punishment fits every single case, because God judges us individually, on the basis of His perfect knowledge of our intentions and conditions.

It is true that suicide is strictly forbidden, because it is an affront to God. It is like a person saying to God: “You have given me life and I am taking it away.” This is what is meant by the sacred Hadith in which God is quoted as saying of the one who commits suicide: “My servant has precipitated My will with regard to himself! Therefore, I am forbidding him entry into heaven.” But this Hadith applies to a person in full control of his faculties, suffering no overpowering adversity and having a reasonable life. If such a person commits suicide, then may be God will not allow him in heaven.

A person who commits suicide as a result of a mental disorder like depression or some other severe form of anxiety is not in full control of his senses. We cannot say how God will judge such a person, but we trust to God’s justice, because He does not deal unfairly with anyone. We pray for the person concerned, and request God to forgive him. When a man committed suicide during the Prophet’s lifetime, the Prophet was distressed. He did not perform the janazah prayer for the deceased, but he ordered his companions to do it. When they did, they prayed for the man and requested God’s forgiveness for him. This shows that the Prophet did not exclude the possibility of his being forgiven by God.