If My slaves ask you about Me, I am near.

 A translation of this fatwa from Naseem al-Sham

Question:

Respected Sheikh Muḥammad Shuqayr,

By Allah, I love your words. Please. Is there any fatwa that allows a person to kill himself, even if it is by way of a drug? For a long time, I have not wanted to live. I have lived my whole life reluctantly. Everywhere I turn, I face tribulations. I have only experienced a few happy days in my entire life. Everything is difficult. I have responsibilities, I have to be patient. And so on and so forth. In my childhood, I decided to be devout and committed, because I was raised that way and I knew it was the best way. I have knocked on Allah’s door and I continue to do so. I memorised Allah’s book and I spent many years doing so, trying to get out of what I was in, or to improve the state of my affairs. I performed the ʿUmrah, and then the Ḥajj. Maybe it is accumulated sins. Maybe it is disobedience. I have not found a way out. I am always feeling remorse over my sins, and regret, and I cannot rid myself of it. Maybe an hour that I spend in the gatherings of knowledge helps me forget, but it all comes back as soon as I leave. I am not prepared to live anymore. I have become weary. There is no benefit in my life, whatever I do and whoever I am. I feel there is no point in doing anything. Please give me some guidance, and may Allah reward you. To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.

Answer (Sheikh Rushdi Salīm al-Qalam):

Praise be to Allah and He suffice, and peace be upon His Messenger, al-Muṣṭafā.

To proceed:

It is not permissible for a person to kill himself, regardless of the reasons, because the spirit that is between your two sides belongs to Allah, the Unique, the Dominant. Allah, Mighty and Majestic is He, has created life and death as a trial and as a choice, so be patient with what Allah has tested you with. Give glad tidings to the patient, and Allah is with the patient. Know that Allah is Forgiving, Most Merciful; He accepts the repentance of His slaves. It is not from our Religion that we punish ourselves. We know that Allah accepts the repentance of His sinning slave if they repent and fulfil the conditions of repentance and turning back to Allah the Exalted. Attend more gatherings of knowledge, keep the company of the righteous, and open a new page between you and Allah; you will find that Allah is Forgiving, Most Merciful. And if you want something, do not ask anyone but Allah. “If My slaves ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the call of the caller when he calls on Me. They should therefore respond to Me and believe in Me so that hopefully they will be rightly guided.” [al-Baqarah 2:186]

[The answer is from Sheikh Rushdi Salīm al-Qalam because Sheikh Muḥammad Shuqayr is very busy these days.]