What does Islam say about self-harm?

Islam is unambiguous that a person may not harm or kill themselves — the Quran states 'do not kill yourselves' and separately warns believers not to throw themselves into destruction with their own hands. The body is regarded as an amanah, a trust from Allah rather than something owned outright to damage, which places self-harm firmly among the acts Islam forbids, alongside its broader emphasis on preserving life and wellbeing. At the same time, this teaching is not meant to add guilt or shame to someone already struggling; Islamic scholarship increasingly recognizes self-harm and suicidal thoughts as symptoms of underlying pain, often tied to depression, trauma, or crisis, that require urgent compassion and real help rather than judgment. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm, that is a genuine emergency — reaching out to a crisis line, mental health professional, or trusted person immediately matters more than any theological discussion, and can be paired afterward with spiritual and community support.

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