Hadith Text

(The dead body) of a person who had killed himself with a broad-headed arrow was brought before the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), but he did not offer prayers for him.

Source Reference

The Book of Prayer - Funerals, Sahih Muslim 978

Scholarly Commentary

This narration demonstrates that the Prophet (ﷺ) withheld the funeral prayer for one who committed suicide, indicating the gravity of this sin in Islamic law. The scholars explain that this action serves as a deterrent and emphasizes the sanctity of life that Allah has bestowed upon humans.

Imam al-Nawawi comments that this ruling applies to all who die while persisting in major sins without repentance. However, later scholars distinguish that the funeral prayer may be offered for Muslims who commit suicide due to mental illness or diminished capacity, as their accountability may be reduced.

The broader principle derived is that while Muslims generally pray for all deceased believers, there are exceptional cases where public acts of disobedience may warrant this disciplinary measure to educate the community about the severity of certain sins.

Legal Implications

The majority of scholars hold that the funeral prayer should still be offered for Muslims who commit suicide, considering the Prophet's action here as specific to that individual case rather than establishing a general rule.

Contemporary scholars emphasize the importance of seeking Allah's mercy for all Muslims while simultaneously condemning the act of suicide as strictly forbidden (haram) in Islam.