http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/re/sanctity/iseuthanasiarev3.shtml
Islamic attitudes towards euthanasia
Islam is totally opposed to euthanasia and suicide. The Qur'an says that Allah
created all life and everything belongs to him:
To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He
pleases.
Surah 42:49
Life is sacred and people are forbidden to kill themselves:
Destroy not yourselves. Surely Allah is ever merciful to you.
Surah 4:29
Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that those people who committed suicide
would go to hell.
If people are suffering badly they should ask Allah for help:
O ye who believe, seek help with patient perseverance and Prayer; surely Allah
is with those who patiently persevere.
Surah 2:153
We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss of wealth
and lives and the fruits of your work; but give glad tidings to those who patiently
persevere, who, when a misfortune overtakes them do not lose heart, but say: To
Allah we belong and to Him is our return.
Surah 2:155-156
No one has the right to decide when they will die:
When their time…arrives they cannot tarry for a single hour nor can they go
ahead.
Surah 16:61
Nor can a soul die except by Allah's leave, that is a decree with a fixed term.
Surah 3:145
http://www.islamatschool.org.uk/GC/GCSETopicsPages/Sanctity.htm
From the Qur'an:
"On that account we decreed for the Children of Israel that whoever kills a human soul
for other than manslaughter or corruption in the land, it shall be as if he killed all
mankind, and who-so-ever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he saved the life of all
mankind". 5-32.
"Whoever saves a single life, it is as though he has saved the life of all mankind." (from
the Qu'ran and the Jewish Talmud )
From a Hadith:
"In old times there was a man with an ailment that taxed his endurance. He cut his wrist
with a knife and bled to death. God was displeased and said "My subject hastened his
end... I deny him paradise' "
Advice to Doctors on Sanctity of Life:
Islamset.com has some advice to Muslim Doctors:
The sanctity of human Life covers all its stages including intrauterine life of the embryo
and fetus. This shall not be compromised by the Doctor save for the absolute medical
necessity recognised by Islamic Law.
This is completely in harmony with modem medical science which lately has embraced a
new speciality called Fetal Medicine. .. striving to diagnose and treat affliction of the
fetus in utero, and devise an artificial placenta to sustain fetuses aborted before viability .
Modern permissive abortion policies are not sanctioned by Islam, which accords several
rights to the fetus. There is a money ransom on abortion in Islam. A fetus has rights of
inheritance and if aborted alive and dies it is inherited by its legal heirs.
From an excellent summary of advice to doctors at www.islamset.com/ethics/code/sancti.html
Islam's emphasis on the sanctity of life extends. Thus, if a pregnant woman in the stage of
viable pregnancy is injured, for example, by a thief to the extent that she aborts or
delivers a dead fetus, the thief can be charged with murder of the fetus; and the law of
qisas will apply unless the mother forgives him and accepts the blood money.
From part of a site arguing the superiority of Islamic Law in giving out Capital Punishment (over the
present American system) by Dr. Shahid Athar at http://www.islam-usa.com/e106.htm
Islam and Human Cloning:
There is also no official consensus on the issue of Human Cloning in the Islam Religion.
Like that of the Jewish religion, there has been talk of supporting a cautious tolerance to
allow for moral applications cloning. Those in the religion that choose to oppose cloning,
suggest that cloning would result in a loss of kinship because it creates children who lack
either a mother or father and kinship is very important to Islamic faith. In addition,
cloning is not mentioned in the Koran. For this reason, some delegates who attended a
conference on cloning would not even discuss the cloning issue. On the other hand, some
Islamic thinkers believe that human cloning would not result in a loss of kinship and find
support for human cloning. For example, some thinkers state that they are not opposed to
cloning because it would not rob a child of his roots, an important concept under Islamic
law. In fact, the discovery might even represent divine will, or a God-given opportunity
for mankind's moral training. Muslims also believe that we have a responsibility to use
the knowledge given to us by Allah. If we have the knowledge to potentially clone human
beings, we therefore must fulfill our commitment to Allah. Finally Muslims are
commanded to have a commitment to healing: According to the Koran, humans should
research cloning techniques if they might potentially "improve human health" Islamic
theologian Aziz Sachedina of the University of Virginia, says the usefulness of human
cloning can be justified by the Koran. He says it asserts that human are participants in the
act of creation with god, and can promote overall welfare by intervening in acts of nature.
Human manipulation of genes made possible by technical intervention in the early stages
of life in order to improve the health of the fetus, or cloning in the meaning of embryo
splitting for the purpose of improving the chances of fertility for a married couple, is
regarded as an act of faith in the ultimate will of God as the giver of all life.
This is from a site on cloning in general by Anne Penarczyk Lynn Andreas Erik Segersten (Team
Coordinator) Kimberly Morris. It has some very interesting general information on cloning:
http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~jones/tmp352/projects98/group10/sanctity.htm
Islam and Human Rights:
Article 3 of the United Nations Charter of Human Rights lays emphasis on the right to
life, liberty and security of persons. Right to life is the most fundamental right. All other
rights have meaning only if this right is respected. First the Qur'an prohibits suicide:
"And kill not yourselves" (4:29). Second it condemns infanticide in verses 17:31, "And
kill not your children for fear of poverty" and 81-9-10 "And when the one buried alive is
asked for what sin she was killed." Also the Qur'an describes killing of one person
without any justification as killing all of humanity: "Wherefore we prescribed for the
children of Israel that whosoever killed a person, unless it be for killing a person or for
creating disorder in the land it shall be as if he had secured the life of all mankind" (5:32).
This Qur'anic statement is of great significance from the human rights viewpoint. It is
quite clear that if a person does not have respect for an individual's life he or she cannot
have respect for human life per se and if one has respect for the sanctity of an individual's
life one will have respect for sanctity of life in general. The Qur'an does not permit the
talking of life without justification.
Thus, the sanctity of life is of utmost importance to the Qur'an. Any one who does not
vouch for the sanctity of life cannot be a true human being. Life cannot be taken except
with the due process of justice. Even in his farewell address the Prophet emphasised the
sanctity of life: " Your persons, properties and honour are declared sacred like the
sanctity attaching to this day, this month and this spot. Let them not be violated." Be it
remembered that this farewell address was delivered in the month of pilgrimage and in
the plain of Arafat, all three being very sacred to Muslims.
From an excellent attempt to show how Islam can be used to further human rights:
http://www.muslimindia.com/hrights.htm
"Do not kill or take human life which God has declared to be sacred", (Qur'an chapter 6:
verse 151). There are two exceptions to this general rule. Firstly, a punishment in
accordance with Islamic law or, secondly, in the case of a just war. The prohibition of
killing of children is also specifically mentioned. "Do not kill your children out of fear or
poverty: it is We who shall provide sustenance for them as well as you. Killing them is
certainly a great sin", (Qur'an chapter 17: verse 31). Islam encourages us to marry and to
procreate. No child is viewed as unwanted. All children are viewed as gifts from God. Ibn
Tammiyyah, a renowned Muslim jurist said, "It is the consensus of the Muslim jurists
that abortion is prohibited". Imam Al Ghazalli, another renowned Muslim jurist said that
it is a crime to disturb the fertilised egg of a human being and the crime becomes worse
the further into pregnancy the disturbance takes place. Dr. Yusuf Al Qaradawi, chairman
of the European
From the transcription of a complex talk to the Irish Parliament at
http://www.irlgov.ie/committees-00/c-constitution/000705/default.htm
http://www.islamatschool.org.uk/GC/GCSETopicsPages/Euthanasia.htm
From the Qur'an:
"Take not life which Allah made sacred otherwise than in the course of justice" (Quran
6:151 and 17:33).
"Do not kill (or destroy) yourselves, for verily Allah has been to you most Merciful"
(Quran 4:29).
From a Hadith:
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: 'In the time before you, a man was wounded. His
wounds troubled him so much that he took a knife and cut his wrist and bled to death.
Thereupon God said: 'My servant hurried in the matter of his life. 'Therefore he is
deprived of the Garden.(Hadith:Bukhari 8:603)
The Qur'an and Euthanasia:
Euthanasia has no place in Islam. Death is a time allotted by God. God is the owner of
Life. Euthanasia and Suicide are perceived by Muslims as morally equivalent. The
hardships and sufferings of this life are a test of a person's Faith (IMAN) and God consciousness (Taqwa). A Muslim needs therefore to have an optimistic approach to life
and not run away from the difficulties of life. That is why the QUR'AN implores people
"not to kill yourself; indeed, God is merciful to you"(QUR'AN 4:29)'The Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) said: 'In the time before you, a man was wounded. His wounds
troubled him so much that he took a knife and cut his wrist and bled to death. Thereupon
God said: 'My servant hurried in the matter of his life. 'Therefore he is deprived of the
Garden.(Hadith:Bukhari 8:603)From this quotation Muslims are forbidden to take their
own lives. If out of despair, someone took their own life then not only has the individual
taken what doesn't belong to him but significantly the community has also failed in its
responsibility to meet the needs of one experiencing a psychological and spiritual void. A
Muslim must never give permission to others to take their lives nor must they assist
them. In lslamic communities the lives of the Old are just as sacred as the young. Death
is a time allotted by God. Nor can a person die except by God's leave, The term being
fixed as waiting' (Qur'an 3:145) Suffering resulting from old age, is never to be endured
for its own sake, so far as it is possible to be eased. It can however be an occasion for
Spiritual Growth Even the manner in which it is endured can have moral effect upon
those privileged enough to be in attendance. God gave life and God is the owner of Life.
People have a responsibility to preserve and prolong that life
From a good summary at:http://www.farmington.ac.uk/library/reports/me/me9.html
The sanctity of human life is a basic value as decreed by God. The Quran says: "Take not
life which Allah made sacred otherwise than in the course of justice" (Quran 6:151 and
17:33). The Shari'a went into great detail in defining the conditions where taking life is
permissible whether in war or in peace with rigorous prerequisites and precautions to
minimize that event. Islam does not give us the right to suicide. Since we did not create
ourselves we do not own our bodies. We are entrusted with them for care, nurture and
safe keeping. However, God is the owner and giver of life and His rights in giving and in
taking are not to be violated. The Quran tells us: "Do not kill (or destroy) yourselves, for
verily Allah has been to you most Merciful" (Quran 4:29). To warn against suicide the
Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) taught: "There was a man in older times who had an
infliction that taxed his patience, so he took a knife, cut his wrist and bled to death. Upon
this God said: My subject hastened his end, I deny him paradise." Given these clear
injunctions, mercy killing in Islam is considered a grave sin. There is still more reason
why one who is suffering an illness should not be tempted to take his own life. Muslims
are told, "Those who patiently preserve will truly receive a reward without measure"
(Quran 39:10) and "bear in patience whatever (ill) may befall you: this, behold, is
something to set one's heart upon" (Quran 31:17). When means of preventing or
alleviating pain fall short, this spiritual dimension can be very effectively called upon to
support the patient who believes that accepting and standing unavoidable pain will be to
his/her credit in the hereafter, the real and enduring life.
By Hassan Hathout, M.D., Ph.D. at http://www.asca.com/updates/1-1/14a.htm
IS THERE A RIGHT TO SUICIDE? Not in Islam. Since we did not create ourselves we
do not own our bodies. We are entrusted with them for care, nurture and safe keeping.
God is the owner and giver of life and His rights in giving and in taking are not to be
violated. Attempting to kill oneself is a crime in Islam as well as a grave sin. The Quran
says: "Do not kill (or destroy) yourselves, for verily Allah has been to you most
Merciful" (Quran 4:29).
There is still another dimension to the question of pain and suffering. Patience and
endurance are highly regarded and highly rewarded values in Islam. "Those who
patiently preserve will truly receive a reward without measure" (Quran 39:10). "And
bear in patience whatever (ill) may befall you: this, behold, is something to set one's heart
upon" (Quran 31:17).
This is a very detailed discussion of Islam and Euthanasia and is well worth a read:
http://www.primenet.com/icsc/euth.txt
Our duration here on this earth is not for us to determine or control. A Muslim believes
that he has no right neither does he have the power to determine his nor any body else's
time to die. Our lives belong to the creator, and we can neither shorten it nor
prolong it. Although it might appear that a person committing suicide is ending his own
life or that a rescue squad or a medical treatment has prolonged a person's life, it is a
basic Islamic belief that a person's life ends only when Allah decides for it to end. Can
we end the suffering..?
A controversial discussion is taking place nowadays in this and other countries of the
world related to the right of individuals to end a life under certain circumstances. This is
a critical issue in particular in our days with many cases of terminally ill individuals
where the person, his family, or the doctor need to take a decision related to medical
treatments and when to "pull the plug." In Islam, this controversy is looked upon in the
light of three basic criteria:
We must do our best to maintain the trust given to us by Allah as he gave us life.
We must do our best to maintain life. Doing our best in maintaining life is within the
limits of knowledge and financial resources.
We have to ensure that whatever we do does not introduce unbearable pain or suffering to
the human in consideration. In other words, if an affordable medical treatment is
available, it must be administered to the patient provided it does not expose the patient to
unusual pains and suffering.
On the other hand, using devices or drugs aimed at ending a person's life is not allowed in
Islam no matter how much is the illness or the suffering. Emotional factors should not be
used in making the treatment decision since belief in the Will and Mercy of Allah should
provide the patient, his family, and his friends with the needed support. Muslims look
upon such hardships as tests from Allah. Patience, persistence, and hope in Allah's
Mercy not only are prescribed for the patient and his family and friends but also are
better rewarded by Allah. Treatment decisions are typically discussed between the
doctor and the immediate family members. The doctor is trusted to have the scientific
medical knowledge. An Islamic rule which is relevant to state here is that as long as the
efforts are sincere and the intentions are to abide by the Islamic rules and follow the
commands of Allah, no one is held responsible for the results. No one is asked to do
things beyond his true means and his true abilities. In summary, knowing that every
single one will die when Allah wills him to die, we all are asked to only do our best,
within the Islamic regulations, in whatever treatment decisions we take.
http://filebox.vt.edu/org/islam_sa/death.txt
http://www.balbycarr.doncaster.sch.uk/subjects/rel/GCSEShortCourse/euthanasia%20index.htm
Most Muslims are against euthanasia. They believe that everyone’s
soul belongs to Allah.
They believe that Allah decides the length of a person’s life, and
that
no-one has the right to interfere with that plan, whatever the
circumstances.
Islamic law states that all senior members of Muslim society must
be taken care of until the end of their lives, no matter how diseased
or confused they may become. The younger Muslim must accept
the
responsibility of nursing their parent or grandparent into the next
life.
Any method of speeding up this transition is condemned.
Any Muslim who carried out an act of euthanasia would be failing to
do their duty according to Islam and they would forfeit their place
in Paradise.
No matter how damaged a person’s body is, Allah has created their
soul perfect and the reason for suffering will be revealed to the
person
in Paradise.
Euthanasia is seen as an act of suicide, and is totally prohibited and
not forgivable.
Muslims lawyers have recently agreed to allow the switching off of
life
support machines if doctors agree that life has ended, this is
because Muslims believe that the soul has then left the body.