ABDUL RASHID

is a member of the Ottawa Muslim community, the ChristianMuslim Dialogue and the Capital Region Interfaith Council.

The Islamic view is that life is a precious gift from our Creator, glory be to Him. Thus, all life belongs to Him and only He can take or give it (Holy Qur’an, 15:23). It is a fundamental principle in Islam that sanctity of life is paramount.

Islam, like all other religions, abhors and condemns murder. The Qur’an equates the wilful murder of an individual to the murder of the entire society and the saving of one life to the saving of all of humanity (5:35).

Likewise, Islam does not allow a person to take his or her “own life” because it does not belong to him or her. Accordingly, it forbids suicide and euthanasia.

Normally, murder is to kill another human being. It is universally subject to legal prosecution and punishment. When such killing is purported to remove the pain and suffering from an incurable disease, it is called euthanasia. This does not make such killing morally right.

It is surprising how often morally repugnant practices are given new names in the hope of their acceptance. Gambling was always considered a harmful activity, but it is now promoted with wide acceptance in the form of lotteries and casinos. Killing or murdering has now been replaced by “euthanasia,” “assisted suicide,” “collateral damage” and so on.

Of course, God does not want us to suffer, but no one is immune from the difficulties inherent in life. Illness accompanied by pain is not only hard on the patient; it is also often a source of great anxiety and distress for close family members of the patient. Such situations deserve our compassion.

At such times, the belief in our Creator’s Will and in His Benevolence sustains us and helps us bear our difficulties with patience (2:156).