The Timing of Death for a Suicide Victim

Question

Is a person who commits suicide considered to have reached their destined time of death on the day they decided to end their life? Would they have died in another way, such as in a car accident, had they not chosen this method? Additionally, for someone who is killed by another person, is their death also predetermined in that manner and at that time?

Answer 1

Peace and blessings be upon you. Allah Almighty says: {When their appointed time comes, they cannot delay it for a single hour, nor can they bring it forward.} (Al-A'raf: 34). He also says: {For every term is a decree; Allah erases what He wills and affirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book.} (Ar-Ra'd: 39). Furthermore, it is stated: {Then He decreed a term, and a specified term is with Him.} Based on these noble verses and others from the Book of Allah, it is clear that a person's final and ultimate time of death is predetermined and known to Allah. Therefore, when their time comes, it cannot be delayed or advanced according to Allah's will. As for the cause of death, regardless of whether it is due to an accident, illness, or other natural causes, or due to murder or suicide—these are all factors that lead to death, which is the act of taking the soul, and this is in the hands of Allah. If it were not for Allah's will for their time to come, these causes would not have had their effect until their appointed time. Even if certain causes do not occur, they will still die by other means when their time arrives. It has been narrated from Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) that 'sufficient is the appointed time as a guardian.' This does not mean that the murderer or the suicide victim is absolved of responsibility, as death is an act of Allah upon a person, so why should the murderer or the suicide victim be blamed? Although a person's time of death is in Allah's hands, they are prohibited from causing death to themselves or others unjustly. If they do so, they will be sinful and punished, even though the act of taking the soul is not in their hands. Every act of taking the soul is in Allah's hands, not in the hands of others. Nevertheless, Allah has forbidden actions that may lead to the death of oneself or others. We ask Allah for well-being for us and for you.