Al-Azhar scholar Osama Qabil affirmed that the recent tragedy in Alexandria, where a woman named Basant took her own life, serves as a stark warning to the entire community.
These are no longer isolated incidents, he warned, but rather reflect the immense psychological pressures that some endure in silence without anyone to support them.
Islam categorically forbids suicide, as it is an act of aggression against the soul, which God has entrusted to humankind, not as their property, he said.
In response to the question, “Is a person who commits suicide excluded from God’s mercy?” he added that God’s mercy is far too vast to be judged by human intellect.
Qabil stressed that it is impermissible to prejudge the fate of any individual, especially given the severe psychological distress that can affect a person’s perception and choices.
God’s mercy
He pointed out that the texts warning against suicide are meant to deter and highlight the dangers of this act, not to close the door to hope or mercy.
Qabil emphasized the difference between someone who commits suicide consciously and someone who reaches a state of severe psychological collapse.
Religious duty must not limited to preaching alone, he said, but must also provide genuine psychological and spiritual support.
Qabil said that many who reach this stage did not desire death as much as they were searching for a way out of their pain – yet they found no one to listen to them or understand their plight.
He called on all members of society—family, friends, and institutions—to be more aware of depression and psychological distress and to treat it with kindness, avoiding ridicule or neglect, because a kind word or a genuine act of support can save someone from a devastating moment of weakness.
Qabil stressed that what happened should prompt us all to reflect, to reach out to those around us, and to pay attention to any signs of pain or isolation.
“Embrace those around you. Support in a moment of weakness can make a huge difference.”
He prayed that God would grant everyone mercy, peace and protection.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
