Ruling concerning wishing for death due to harm that has come
Question: I have faced so many difficulties in my life that it has made me hate this life. Every time I turned to Allaah, I pleaded for Him to take my life away from me at the earliest. This is my wish until now as I do not see any solutions to my problems except death; it is the only thing that can save me from this punishment. Is this behavior forbidden for me?
Response: When a person wishes for death because of something that has afflicted him, he is doing something that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) has prohibited. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:
((None of you should hope for death because of some harm that has come to him. If he has wish such, he should say, ‘O Allaah, give me life if You know that life is better for me. And give me death if You know that death is better for me)).
Therefore, it is not allowed for anyone to wish for death because of some harm, hardship or difficulty that has come to him. In fact, he should have patience and expect a reward from Allaah for what he is passing through. He should also wait for relief to come, as the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) has said:
((Know that victory comes with patience, relief with distress and ease with hardship)).
The one who is afflicted with any affliction should know that those afflictions expiate some of the sins that he has committed. No believer is afflicted with any kind of worry, grief or pain except that Allaah expiates sins for him due to that, even the pricking of a thorn. When the person has patience and expects rewards from Allaah, he reaches the stage of being among the patient. This stage is a very elevated stage. Allaah has stated about its inhabitants:
{And give glad tidings to the patient. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say, ‘Truly, to Allaah we belong and, truly, to Him we shall return}, [Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayahs 155-156].
The woman in the question feels that there is no solution for her problems except death. I believe that this is a mistaken view. Death does not solve any problems. In fact, the situation of adversity may get even worse. How many humans die while being afflicted with pain and problems but they had been wronging themselves and did not give their sins and repent to Allaah. Then his death is just a quicker coming of his punishment. If he remained alive, perhaps Allaah would have guide him to repentance, seeking forgiveness, patience, facing the problem and expecting relief. This all would have been good for him. Therefore, you, the questioner, must be patient and expect relief from Allaah. Allaah says in His book:
{So, verily, with the hardship there is relief. Verily, with the hardship, there is relief}, [Soorah ash-Sharh, Aayahs 5-6].
And the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) stated, in an authentic narration:
((Know that victory comes with patience, relief with distress and ease with hardship)).
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen
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