Hunger Strike Until Death Because of Injustice
Fatwa No: 81240

Question

I have a question to ask, and I would put an example for you kindly to answer it. For example, if somebody was UNFAIRLY jailed and he asks to be let free or he would go on strike on food to death. The person is a good businessman and he makes a lot of money when he works (adding to Islam strength). For him, a jail is end of life and he would like to seize any chance to get out. He thinks, they would let him free if he go on strike. But maybe he would die from the food strike. But also if he died, many people would know about the unfair justice of the court.
The question is: would his death be a suicide, a death for his rights or would it be shahada?
Thank you alot.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Allah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful.} [Quran 4:29] Salman said to his brother Abu ad-Darda’: “Your Lord has a right on you, your soul has a right on you, and your family has a right on you; so you should give the rights of all those who have a right on you.

Abu Ad-Darda' came to the Prophet and inquired about it, and the Prophet said, “Salman has spoken the truth.

Jundub Ibn ‘Abdullah narrated that the Prophet said: “There was a person before you, he had a wound, he took a knife and cut his hands, he died by the continuous bleeding; “Allah said: “My slave hurried to his life before me, so I forbade Paradise for him.” In the light of these texts, killing oneself is prohibited. One should be patient on unfairness of unjust people. Allah will increase his reward. If he died in this condition, he would be a martyr, Allah willing. Defending one’s soul by legal ways is permissible. You may use all kinds of legal ways without committing any forbidden acts. You may consult lawyers to raise your issue once again. Going on hunger strike to gain your rights is permitted if there is no other way. But you should not go on strike till your death because killing our own selves is prohibited in Islam. Allah Says (what means): {And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful.} [Quran 4:29]

Dear brother, be patient on these problems, you know Prophet Yousuf had been imprisoned unjustly, he endured it. Allah Says (what means): {Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.} [Quran 12:90]

You are neither the first who has been treated unjustly nor will you be the last. Do not lose hope of the mercy of Allah. Allah Says (what means): {He said, "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?"} [Quran 15:56]

Always try to be a doer of good; you would be near to the Mercy of Allah. Allah Says (what means): {Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.} [Quran 7:56]

Hence, you should supplicate Allah as much as possible, and praise Him that cruelty does not prevent you from worshipping Him. May Allah bless you. You are blessed any way, as in a sound Hadeeth, the Prophet said: “When a slave of Allah suffers from illness or sets on a journey, he is credited with equal rewards for whatever good deeds he used to do when he was healthy or resident (at home - not travelling).” [Al-Bukhari and others]

Suhayb narrated that the Prophet said: “Strange indeed is the matter of a believer, there is good in all his affairs, and this is only for the believer. If something good happens to him and he is grateful, then this is good for him, and if a calamity befalls him and he is patient, then this is also good for him.” [Muslim]

Try hard to do good deeds. May Allah dispel your sorrows. This unfairness which you underwent will upgrade your position in the day of resurrection. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said: “Do you know who is the one who is bankrupt (poor)?” They (the Companions) said, “The bankrupt amongst us is the one who has no money and no Dinar nor Dirhams (i.e. no possessions).” He said, “The truly bankrupt of my followers is the one who comes on the Day of Resurrection with prayers and fasts and Zakat but (he finds himself bankrupt on that day as he exhausted his funds of virtues) since he hurled abuses against some people, slandered some, unlawfully consumed the wealth of some, shed the blood of some, and beat some; and his virtues are then credited to their account (those who suffered at his hand). And if his good deeds fall short to clear the account, then some of their sins are entered in (his account) and he is thrown in the Hellfire.” [Muslim]

If you are oppressed, you will take from the good deeds of whoever has oppressed you. Allah said in a Qudsi Hadeedth: “I shall surely come to your aid, even if after a time.

Do not forget that this life is a place of test and it is a very short period. Be patient, fear Allah, and be content in what Allah has chosen for you. This may ease for you the way of Paradise. We ask Allah to drive away your worries and grieves and put all these trials in the record of your good deeds.

For more benefit on the virtues of patience when struck with calamity, please refer to Fatwa 83577.

For more benefit on the prohibition of committing suicide, please refer to Fatawa 84296, 96097, 22853, 377509, 34194 and 223189.

Allah knows best.

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