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Unlock This CourseEuthanasia, Assisted Dying and the Law explained the types of euthanasia, the law in the United Kingdom and the non-religious arguments. This lesson gives the Muslim teachings. Most Muslim scholars (ulama) say that euthanasia and assisted suicide are forbidden. There are three main reasons.
Remember from Allah's Creation and Humans as Khalifah that an amanah is something precious given to you to look after: Muslims say life and the body are an amanah from Allah.
Qur'an 3:145 says that no soul can die except by Allah's permission, at a time that is already set. So ending a life early takes over a decision that belongs to Allah alone.
As Sanctity of Life and Abortion: Islamic Views showed, life is a gift from Allah and humans are his khalifah (trusted stewards). Muslims say we do not own our lives, we look after them, so we have no right to end them.
Qur'an 4:29 tells believers not to kill themselves, and says Allah is merciful to them. Muslims therefore see assisted suicide as helping someone to do what Islam forbids. Qur'an 5:32 also treats killing as very serious.
Many Muslims also point to a hadith (a report of what Muhammad said and did) which teaches that a person should not wish for death because of a harm that has come to them. Instead they should ask Allah for what is best.
Life as a Test: Evil and Suffering in Islam explained that Muslims see hardship as a test of sabr (patient endurance). A dying or very ill person may suffer greatly, but Muslims believe that patience brings reward. A hadith says that even the prick of a thorn wipes away some sins, and Qur'an 39:10 says the patient are rewarded without measure. So the Muslim answer to terrible pain is not to end life, but to endure it with trust in Allah while the people around them give help.
Islam does not say that patients must simply put up with pain. Muslims believe that Allah sent a cure for each illness, so seeking treatment is encouraged. Caring for the sick is a duty for family and community, and a Muslim doctor is expected to treat patients with compassion. This means:
Forbidding euthanasia does not mean treatment must go on for ever. Many scholars teach that doctors must not cause death, but they may stop or not start a treatment that only prolongs the dying process and has no hope of cure. In this view, the person then dies naturally, at the time Allah has set. Scholars still disagree about where to draw the line. Some say that basic care, such as food and water, must always continue. This shows that Muslims do not all agree on every case, even though all agree that actively ending life is forbidden.
Non-religious people may say that a person has the right to decide about their own death. Muslims reply that the body is an amanah, so the choice is not fully ours. They also warn that sick people could feel pressure not to be a burden on others.
Muslims reply that dignity comes from being a human being made by Allah, and illness cannot take that away. A dignified death is one with care, comfort and family around, not one that is brought about early.
Do not write that Islam says patients must suffer or that all treatment must continue for ever. Muslims support pain relief and care, and many scholars allow stopping treatment that only prolongs dying. Do not say that every Muslim agrees on every case. Do not mix up the two verses: 3:145 is about Allah deciding the time of death, and 4:29 is about not killing yourself.
Paper 1 style. Parts (a) and (b) test AO1. Parts (c) and (d) test AO1 and AO2.
(a) Identify three Muslim teachings about euthanasia. [3 marks]
(b) Choose one religion. Outline two ways in which people in this religion try to relieve suffering. [4 marks]
(c) Choose one religion. Explain why euthanasia is not supported in this religion. [6 marks]
(d) 'People should be allowed to choose when they die.' Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks]
(a) 1. Allah decides when a person dies (1). 2. Life is a trust from Allah (1). 3. Suicide is forbidden (1).
(b) Muslims try to relieve suffering by caring for the sick, such as visiting them and staying with them (1), which is seen as a good deed (1). They also use medicine and pain relief (1), because Muslims believe Allah sent a cure for every illness (1).
(c) Euthanasia is not supported in Islam first because Muslims believe that Allah decides when each person dies. Qur'an 3:145 says that no soul can die except by Allah's permission, so ending a life early takes over a decision that belongs to Allah.
Second, Muslims believe that life is a trust, an amanah, given by Allah, so people do not own their lives. Third, Qur'an 4:29 forbids killing yourself, so helping someone to die is helping them do what is forbidden. Finally, Muslims believe suffering can be a test that is rewarded if it is faced with patience, so the answer is care and pain relief, not ending life.
(d) Plan. For: non-religious people argue that people have the right to decide about their own body and to avoid pain; dignity may mean ending life before it is lost.
Against: Muslims say that Allah decides the time of death (Qur'an 3:145) and life is a trust, so the choice is not ours alone; suicide is forbidden (Qur'an 4:29); suffering can be a test; good care and pain relief can ease the pain; sick people might feel pressure to choose death.
Possible conclusion: weigh the points, then pick a side. For example: I mostly disagree. People have the right to choose in many parts of life, but Muslim teaching shows that death is different, because life belongs to Allah. Care and pain relief meet the aim of reducing suffering without ending life, so people should not be allowed to choose when they die.
In part (c), give your reasons as separate developed points, each with a teaching or verse. In part (d), do not just give the Muslim view: use the non-religious argument about choice too, then say which is stronger and why.