Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

64 Questions

Yes it is true that the Holy Prophet (SAWA) never encourages anyone to
abandon the Hereafter for this world nor this world for the Hereafter.
In the narrations one of the pious companions Usman ibn Madh’oon عثمان بن مظعون who was one of the earliest Muslims (13th or 14th) and who suffered a lot
from the enemies of the Muslims in Makkah and who had migrated to
Abyssinia twice, first with the Muslims of Madinah were who led by him
and the second time he migrated to Abyssinia with a group of Muslims
led by Ja’far ibn Abi Talib.

Usman ibn Madh’oon participated in the Muslim army in the battle of
Badr. He was spending his days in fasting and the nights in
worshipping. He sought permission from the Holy Prophet (SAWA) to
abandon this world and remain in worshipping Allah (SWT) only. The
Holy Prophet (SAWA) did not allow this and told him : “No, I was not
sent to abandon this world for the Hereafter nor to abandon the
Hereafter for sake of this world”. The Hadeeth says : “Do for your
worldly life as if you will remain in the world forever and do for
your Hereafter as if you are leaving this world tomorrow. (Mustadrak
al-Wasaa’il vol. 13 pg. 58 and Bihar al-Anwar vol. 44 pg. 139). Even
in the Holy Qu’ran in Surah al-Qasas verse 77, Allah (SWT) says :
“Seek with what Allah (SWT) has bestowed on you the Hereafter and
don’t forget your lawful portion from this world”.

Wassalam.

Every human being who has basic intellectual faculty believes that his
existence in this life is the most valuable. That is why you find
that everyone including small children try to avoid any danger on
life and they do whatever they can to save this life. Those who have
mental or psychological problems feel sometimes that they wish they
were not born. This feeling goes against the basic instinctive
knowledge of all human beings and cannot be taken as normal feeling
but it needs to be dealt with as a mental and psychological problem.
Hence it needs to be treated through specialist health experts and
other ways of treatment. No doubt the best treatment for mental and
psychological conditions is remembering Allah (SWT). Remembering Allah
(SWT) is the source of peace of mind and tranquility.

Even those whose claim that they wish that they were not born are not
sure about their feelings and that is why you find them if they face
any danger then they try to avoid it and save their lives. So their
feeling itself is not firm.

Islam teaches us to appreciate the bounties which we have been granted
and one of the greatest bounties is that Allah (SWT), the Most
Merciful, the Most Compassionate has granted us life after we were not
existing as Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Qur’an : Has there not been
one moment in time when he was not existing (Surah al-Insan : verse
1).

Such people need to be looked after with more sympathy and should be
morally and medically supported. They should be advised to remember
the source of peace of mind and keep on remembering Allah (SWT). That
will make them feel the taste of life and enjoy it and thank the
Creator Allah (SWT)

Wassalam.

It sounds like this person is going through a tough time.

Life has easy and difficult times, sometimes very difficult times. It is good to have faith that there is light at the end of the tunnel and to contemplate on the verses of the Qur'an about Allah's mercy. Nothing stays the same forever and things often change in ways we could never imagine. Until then, however, it is sometimes necessary to walk in the darkness until reaching the light. The good thing about darkness, however, is sometimes it makes the light clearer. 

Existence is not a choice, since a person who dies continues to exist. However, it is good to have faith that Allah has a plan and does not create anything in vain; just because we do not understand why we, individually, were created does not mean that we do not have our own specific reason for being.

Some might argue that Qur'an 7:172 which speaks of human beings testifying to the existence and lordship of Allah (in the realm of pre-existence, or in some other way) implies that we gave a sort of agreement to existing, even if we do not remember it now. Some might also argue that Qur'an 33:72 implies a sort of willingness to exist and accept the risks/consequences of free will, even if we currently do not want it - God knows best. 

If this person is also dealing with depression or a psychological condition (either as a condition by itself or as a response to challenging circumstances), they could also look into psychological/psychiatric interventions and see if they are useful and appropriate at the moment to help get more zest for life. 

If it is more of a spiritual or existential crisis (and all of the above can go hand in hand), more study and reflection of the Qur'an and theology and the big questions of life may help. In the end, while Muslims, like others, offer answers to questions such as "why do we exist?", it is one of those big questions that people have pondered for millenia, and although religions can provide answers, I think it is also something people often need to find answers for inside themselves. 

Bismillah 

Thank you for your question. It is God who decides who exists and that is not the choice of an individual. What is in their choice is what they do with the life they are given, and not wanting life, reward or punishment is not something that absolves them from that responsibility.

May you always be successful