What is the Islamic ruling concerning a sixteen-year-old young man who, having been ignorant of the relevant Islamic ruling, took medicine for the purpose of committing suicide but was saved from death? Is there any opportunity for him to repent?

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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Verily, suicide is one of the greatest major sins in the sight of Allah, the Almighty, because of which one would abide in the fire of Hell forever, we seek refuge with Allah, the Almighty!

It was narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever kills himself with an iron weapon will be carrying that weapon in his hand and will be stabbing his abdomen in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will stay eternally forever. Whoever drinks poison and kills himself with it will be carrying his poison in his hand and drinking it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will remain eternally forever. Whoever purposely throws himself from a mountain and is killed will be in the (Hell) Fire, wherein he will live perpetually forever, falling down into it." [Ahmad, Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Therefore, if one tries to go through any of those suicide attempts and is saved, then he should hasten to repent to Allah, the Almighty, with sincere repentance and thank Allah for the favor of saving him from this immediate, deferred, and perpetual destruction. He should also multiply his righteous deeds, accompany the men of good and righteousness who abstain from indulging in worldly pleasures, have desire for the Hereafter, and guard against the evil suggestions of Satan and the destructive thoughts of inclination.

Without a doubt, if one repents with true and sincere repentance, then Allah, the Almighty, will accept his repentance and encompass him with His mercy and pardon. There is no sin, no matter how grave it might be, but that the gate of repentance thereof is widely open, as a bounty and mercy from Allah; and this includes even the greatest major sins such as polytheism, killing the soul which Allah has forbidden to be killed except with a just cause, and committing illegal sexual intercourse. In confirmation, Allah, the Almighty, says (what means): {And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated, except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. And he who repents and does righteousness does indeed turn to Allah with [accepted] repentance.} [Quran 25:68-71]

Allah knows best.