he killed himself by throwing himself from the top of a mountain, a wall, or the like, then he will likewise be punished by it in the Fire of Hell, as has been related from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. (1)

Many non-Muslims, when worldly life becomes constricted for them, kill themselves—may Allah protect us. Thus, they are like one who seeks refuge from scorching heat in the Fire: they hasten punishment upon themselves—may Allah protect us—for they begin to be punished from the moment they die.

The evidence for this is that “the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, was brought a man who had killed himself with broad-headed arrows, and he did not offer the funeral prayer over him.” (2)

But should the rest of the people offer the funeral prayer over him?

The answer is yes: the rest of the people should offer the funeral prayer over him, because he is a Muslim and does not thereby become a disbeliever, even though he will remain in the Fire until Allah wills otherwise.

If someone were to ask: Should this ruling also be extended to the leader, judge, or mufti of every town—that is, anyone whose abstention would serve as a deterrent? Does the ruling extend to them?

The answer is yes, the ruling extends to them. Thus, whoever can serve as a deterrent by refraining from the prayer is recommended not to offer the funeral prayer over one who misappropriated booty or one who killed himself.

Issue: Are those who harm Muslims to the same degree as, or more severely than, one who misappropriates booty and one who kills himself—such as highway robbers, for example—also included in this ruling?