whom we hear carrying out such operations—we hope that they will not be punished, for they are ignorant and acting on faulty interpretations. Even so, they will have no reward and are not martyrs, because they have done what Allah has not permitted—indeed, what He has expressly forbidden.

Someone might object: “Did not the Companions take bold risks and sometimes break through the enemy lines of the Byzantines and others?” We reply: Yes, but was that suicide? By no means. True, they placed themselves in danger, yet the possibility of survival remained. They would penetrate the Roman ranks, strike down whom Allah willed, and then return safely to their own army.

A case in point is what al-Barāʾ ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) did at the Battle of al-Yamāmah. When the Muslim forces reached the wall of Musaylimah the Liar, they found the gate shut and could not enter. Al-Barāʾ—Anas ibn Mālik’s brother and a man of great courage—asked the army to catapult him over the wall so that he could open the gate for them. They hurled him over; he opened the gate, the Muslims poured in against Musaylimah, and al-Barāʾ survived. Such events cannot be used to justify the kind of suicide carried out today at the behest of certain leaders.

Nevertheless, we pray that Allah, exalted is He, will not call them to account for what they have done, because they acted out of ignorance and good intention. Yet whoever kills himself with anything will be tormented with that very thing in the Fire of Hell.

Be aware that the texts describing one who kills himself state that he will be punished with it in Hell, “abiding therein forever and ever.” The word “forever” is mentioned—does that mean he is a disbeliever, since only disbelievers deserve eternal punishment? The answer is: No, he is not a disbeliever. He is to be washed, shrouded, given the funeral prayer, and prayed for—just as the Prophet ﷺ did for the man who killed himself with arrowheads.