The 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 Allah, 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 behaviour
forbidden for me?

Answer:
When a person wishes for death because of
something that has afflicted him, he is doing
something that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-
wasallam) 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
Allah, 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.’” [1]
Therefore, It is not allowed for anyone to wish
for death because of some harm, hardship or
difficulty that has come to him. Infact, he
should be patient and expect a reward from
Allah for what he is passing through. He
should also wait for relief to come, as the
Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) has said,
“Know that victory comes with patience,
relief with distress, and ease with
hardship.” [2]

The one who is afflicted with any affliction
should know that those afflictions expiate some
of his sins that he has committed. No believer
is afflicted with any kind of worry, grief or
pain except that Allah expiates sins from him
due to that, even the pricking of a thorn. When
the person is patient and expects rewards from
Allah, he reaches the stage of being patient.
This stage is a very elevated stage. Allah has
stated about its inhabitants,
''And give glad tidings to the patient. Who,
when afflicted with calamity, say, ‘Truly, to
Allah we belong and, truly, to Him we shall
return.’” (Surah al-baqarah 155 -156)

The women in the question feels that there is
no solution for her problems except death. I
believe this is a mistaken view. Death does not
solve any problems. Infact, 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 up their sins and
repent to Allah. Then his death is just a
quicker coming of his punishment. If he
remained alive, perhaps Allah would have
guided him to repentance, seeking forgiveness,
patience, facing the problems and expecting
the relief. This all would have been good for
him.
Therefore, you the questioner must be patient
and expect relief from Allah. Allah says in His
Book,
''So verily with hardship there is relief.
Verily with the hardship there is
relief.” (Surah al- Sharh 5-6)
The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) stated
in an authentic narration,
''Know that victory comes with patience,
relief with distress, and ease with
hardship.” [3]
________________________
[1] Recorded by al-Bukhari, and Muslim.
[2] According to al- Albani, it is an authentic
hadith. See al- Albani Sahih al- Jami al-
Sagheer, Vol. 2, p. 1151
[3] According to al- Albani, it is an authentic
hadith. See al- Albani Sahih al- Jami al-
Sagheer, Vol. 2, p. 1151
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-
`Uthaymeen
Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women - Darussalam
Pg.48-50