Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh

What is the Islamic ruling on euthanasia according to Quran and Sunnah?

azak Allah khayr.

Your sister

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Note: Please do not display my name or email address on your website or mailing list. Jazak Allah khayr.

I am a doctor, your answer will help me a lot inshaAllah.

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Answer:

Islam view on mercy killing

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Medical science and instruments that could be used to keep a person ‘wired’ and thus technically alive were obviously not available during the times of the Prophet (saws); thus the Quran and the Sunnah are obviously silent on the issue of euthanasia.

In light of the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, the absolute majority of the scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that none has the right to terminate the life of another without just cause, and have ruled against the family members or their doctors taking the decision to ‘un-wire’ the terminally ill person that would cause his death.

A few scholars have voiced their opinion that if there is absolutely no hope that the person will ever recover again, or if the family members cannot afford keeping the person on the machine, or for any other valid and strong reason, they have reluctantly permitted that on the advice of the medical experts the person be ‘un-wired’; but we reiterate again, that the majority of the scholars have voiced their opinion against euthanasia.

And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan