Suicide and Mass Shooting: An Islamic Perspective By Hassan Ali El-Najjar

Islam:

God's Message of Guidance to Humanity

Yesterday was 12th of Rabi' Al-Awwal, the annual anniversary of the birth of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammed, peace and blessings be upon him (pbbuh).

While Muslims don't celebrate this event in a structured way, they observe it with prayers and remembrance of his teachings, with reaffirmation to follow them.

As a start, Islamic teachings strictly prohibit both individual suicide and suicide mass killing of innocent people.

When Allah, praise to Him, decided to create life on Earth, He made sure that there is enough sustenance to all of His creations, particularly humans. Thus, there is no justification for individual suicide because of poverty or fear of poverty as a result of failure.

Allah, praise to Him, also instructed us to be merciful, compassionate, and beneficial to each other. This means that nobody should be left alone or behind, particularly if they are overwhelmed by problems and crises. The support, care, and compassion they receive from their families, relatives, friends, communities, and society as a whole will help them to survive these problems or crises, and start all over, instead of ending their life tragically.

Moreover, Allah, praise to Him, instructed us to treat each other with respect, fairness, and good faith. This means that we should not discriminate against, abuse, put down, make fun of, scorn, or mock each-other.

A whole lot of individual suicides and suicide mass shootings in the US is as a result of the feelings of loneliness in facing problems, or as a revenge against perceived or real mistreatment.

The United States has been experiencing very high rates of individual suicides as well as suicide mass shootings, mainly related to firearms. These rates are the highest in the world, exceeding their counterparts in any other society on Earth, by hundreds of times (In 2010, there were 38,364 suicides, and in 2011, there were 32,163 fire-arms related deaths). [1]

More important than the availability of firearms and assault weapons used in these mass shootings is the absence of culture of peace, mercy, compassion, and community. This is a result of the promotion of the culture of violence, aggressiveness, winning by any means, and advancing selfish personal interests on the expense of others.

The solution should start with the promotion of a culture of peace, mercy, and compassion instead of the current culture of violence. At the same time, weapons should be restricted to law-enforcement personnel, as is the case in other societies around the world.

Allah, praise to Him, described Himself as the Peace, the Merciful, the Compassionate, and the Beneficent to all.[2] These are His characteristics that He wants us to imitate as much as we can for our own good and benefit in this life and in the Hereafter. He also described His Messenger, Muhammed (pbbuh), as "mercy" to His creations in the worlds, particularly humans, as stated in verses 21: 107, 34: 28, 17: 105, and 25: 56).

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ (الأنبياء ، 21: 107).

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا كَافَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ (سبأ ، 34: 28).

وَبِالْحَقِّ أَنزَلْنَاهُ وَبِالْحَقِّ نَزَلَ ۗ وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا (الإسراء ، 17: 105).

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا (الفرقان ، 25: 56).

And We have not sent you, (O Muhammad), except as a mercy to the worlds (Al-Anbiya, 21: 107).

And We have not sent you except comprehensively to humankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. But most of the people do not know (Saba', 34: 28).

And with the truth We have sent it (the Quran) down, and with the truth it has descended. And We have not sent you, (O Muhammad), except as a bringer of good tidings and a warner (Al-Issra', 17: 105).

And We have not sent you, (O Muhammad), except as a bringer of good tidings and a warner (Al-Furqan, 25: 56).

Allah, praise to Him, strongly prohibited the killing of oneself (suicide), or anybody else, or children for fear of poverty, as stated in verses 6: 151, 17: 33, 2: 195, and 4: 29 because the killing of one innocent soul is for God equal to the crime of killing all people, as stated in 5: 32.

قُلْ تَعَالَوْا أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ أَلَّا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُم مِّنْ إِمْلَاقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّـهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ (الأنعام ، 6: 151).

Say, "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you. [He commands] that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment, and do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them. And do not approach immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed. And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed] except by [legal] right. This has He instructed you that you may use reason" (Al-Ana'am, 6: 151).

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّـهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ۗ وَمَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهِ سُلْطَانًا فَلَا يُسْرِف فِّي الْقَتْلِ ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مَنصُورًا (الإسراء ، 17: 33).

And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly - We have given his heir authority, but let him not exceed limits in (the matter of) taking life. Indeed, he has been supported (Al-Issra, 17: 33).

وَأَنفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوا ۛ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ (البقرة ، 2: 195).

And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good (Al-Baqara, 2: 195).

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِالْبَاطِلِ إِلَّا أَن تَكُونَ تِجَارَةً عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنكُمْ ۚ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا (النساء ، 4: 29).

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 (Al-Baqara, 2: 29).

مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ (المائدة ، 5: 32).

Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors (Al-Ma-ida, 5: 32).

First, Allah, praise to Him, has taught us to avoid the conditions and circumstances that may lead individual suicides and suicide mass killing by firearms or other weapons or means, as stated in many verses of the Holy Quran.

The incapable, weak-minded should not be allowed to be in a position to cause us harm, by allowing them to have control over our financial resource. By generalization, they should not be allowed to have access to weapons, which they may use to harm themselves and others, like in many incidents of suicide mass shootings in the United States.

وَلَا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمُ (النساء ، 4: 5).

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammed (pbbuh) warned us even against pointing a weapon against anybody, let alone using it. In a Hadith narrated by the Companion Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, he said:

"None of you should point a weapon against his brother, lest the Shaytan (Satan) should move his hand, then he will fall in the Fire hole" (as a result of harming or killing the other person). (Sahih Muslim, 4742 ، 2617).

Second, people should not succumb to the whispering of Shaytan (Satan), who frightens people with poverty, making them feel hopeless and helpless. There has to be social support on all levels to give people hope for improvement in their life.

Allah, praise to Him, promised that His sustenance is enough for everybody, we just need to try again, try different things, and manage our resources wisely. Nobody is required to do more than his/her capabilities, as stated in verses 2: 268, 2: 286, and 65: 7.

الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِالْفَحْشَاءِ ۖ وَاللَّـهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةً مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًا ۗ وَاللَّـهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ (البقرة ، 2: 268).

Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing (Al-Baqara, 2: 268).

لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ (البقرة ، 2: 286).

Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned (Al-Baqara, 2: 286).

لِيُنفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍ مِّن سَعَتِهِ ۖ وَمَن قُدِرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُ فَلْيُنفِقْ مِمَّا آتَاهُ اللَّـهُ ۚ لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَا آتَاهَا ۚ سَيَجْعَلُ اللَّـهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍ يُسْرًا (الطلاق ، 65: 7).

Let whoever has wealth spend from his wealth, and whoever whose provision is restricted - let him spend from what Allah has given him. Allah does not charge a soul except (according to) what He has given it. Allah will bring about, after hardship, ease (Al-Talaq, 65: 7).

Third, people should be treated with respect and not to be subjected to psychological or verbal abuse, or what is known as bullying. We should not ridicule, scorn, mock, insult, use offensive nicknames, or slander people. Otherwise, the victims may be pushed to avenge themselves against the perpetrators, which may result in killing themselves, the perpetrators, and other innocent bystanders.

These meanings are stated in verses 104: 1, 49: 11, 2: 212, 9: 79, and 37: 12-14.

وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُّمَزَةٍ (الهمزة ، 104: 1).

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُونُوا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَاءٌ مِّن نِّسَاءٍ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ ۖ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا بِالْأَلْقَابِ ۖ بِئْسَ الِاسْمُ الْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ الْإِيمَانِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ (الحجرات ، 49: 11).

O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers (Al-'Hujurat, 49: 11).

زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۘ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ (البقرة ، 2: 212).

Beautified for those who disbelieve is the life of this world, and they ridicule those who believe. But those who fear Allah are above them on the Day of Resurrection. And Allah gives provision to whom He wills without account (Al-Baqara, 2: 212).

الَّذِينَ يَلْمِزُونَ الْمُطَّوِّعِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الصَّدَقَاتِ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ إِلَّا جُهْدَهُمْ فَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنْهُمْ ۙ سَخِرَ اللَّـهُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (التوبة ، 9: 79).

Those who slander the contributors among the believers concerning (their) charities and (slander) the ones who find nothing (to spend) except their effort, so they ridicule them - Allah will ridicule them, and they will have a painful punishment (Al-Tawbah, 9: 79).

بَلْ عَجِبْتَ وَيَسْخَرُونَ ﴿١٢﴾ وَإِذَا ذُكِّرُوا لَا يَذْكُرُونَ ﴿١٣﴾ وَإِذَا رَأَوْا آيَةً يَسْتَسْخِرُونَ (الصافات ، 37: 12-14).

But you wonder, while they mock, (12) And when they are reminded, they remember not. (13) And when they see a sign, they ridicule (Al-Safat, 37: 12-14).

Fourth, Allah, praise to Him, strongly prohibits oppression (committing injustice) against other people, and transgression against them, as this leads to hatred, revenge, and instability of society.

There many verses in the Holy Quran, which states prohibition of oppression and transgression, as 8:25, 18: 59, 25: 19, 27: 11, 4: 148, 7: 33, 16: 90, 5: 2, and 2: 190.

وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لَّا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنكُمْ خَاصَّةً ۖ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّـهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ (الأنفال ، 8: 25).

And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allah is severe in penalty (Al-Anfal, 8: 25).

وَتِلْكَ الْقُرَىٰ أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِم مَّوْعِدًا (الكهف ، 18: 59).

And those cities - We destroyed them when they wronged, and We made for their destruction an appointed time (Al-Kahf, 18: 59).

وَمَن يَظْلِم مِّنكُمْ نُذِقْهُ عَذَابًا كَبِيرًا (الفرقان ، 25: 19).

And whoever oppresses (commits injustice) among you, We will make him taste a great punishment (Al-Furqan, 25: 19).

مَن ظَلَمَ ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حُسْنًا بَعْدَ سُوءٍ فَإِنِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (النمل ، 27: 11).

Otherwise, he who wrongs, then substitutes good after evil - indeed, I am Forgiving and Merciful (Al-Naml, 27: 11).

لَّا يُحِبُّ اللَّـهُ الْجَهْرَ بِالسُّوءِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا (النساء ، 4: 148).

Allah does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allah Hearing and Knowing (Al-Nissa, 4: 148).

قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالْإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّـهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا وَأَن تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّـهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ (الأنفال ، 7: 33).

Say, "My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know." (Al-Afal, 7: 33).

إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ (النحل ، 16: 90).

Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded (Al-Na'hl, 16: 90).

وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ ۚ (المائدة ، 5: 2).

And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression (Al-Ma-ida, 5:2).

وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ (البقرة ، 2: 190).

Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors (Al-Baqara, 2: 190).

Victims of injustice are encouraged to seek legal means of getting justice against perpetrators, as this is good for them and for society as a whole, as stated in verse 179 of Surat Al-Baqarah (Chapter 2) of the Holy Quran.

وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقِصَاصِ حَيَاةٌ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ (البقرة ، 2: 179).

And there is for you in legal retribution (saving of) life, O you (people) of reasoning, that you may become righteous (Al-Baqara, 2: 179).

Society has to make sure that victims of oppression and transgression are satisfied by bringing their oppressors to justice. Otherwise, victims may take the law of retribution and punishment of transgressors into their hands (as what happens in some cases of mass shooting).

While the surviving victims or their families have the right to bring the perpetrators to justice, they will be rewarded for their patience and forgiveness, as we read in verses 37-43 of Surat Al-Shoura (Chapter 42) of the Holy Quran.

وَالَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُوا هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾

وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْبَغْيُ هُمْ يَنتَصِرُونَ ﴿٣٩﴾

وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّـهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٤٠﴾

وَلَمَنِ انتَصَرَ بَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ مَا عَلَيْهِم مِّن سَبِيلٍ ﴿٤١﴾

إِنَّمَا السَّبِيلُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَظْلِمُونَ النَّاسَ وَيَبْغُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿٤٢﴾

وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ ﴿٤٣﴾ (الشورى ، 42: 37-43).

And those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, and when they are angry, they forgive, (37)

And those who have responded to their lord and established prayer and whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves, and from what We have provided them, they spend. (38)

And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allah. Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers. (40)

And whoever avenges himself after having been wronged - those have not upon them any cause [for blame]. (41)

The cause is only against the ones who wrong the people and tyrannize upon the earth without right. Those will have a painful punishment. (42)

And whoever is patient and forgives - indeed, that is of the matters [requiring] determination. (43) (Al-Shoura, 42: 37-43).

من أحاديثِ النبيِّ عليه الصلاةُ والسلام ، ذاتِ الصلة:

صحيح مسلم - كتاب البر والصلة والآداب - 4685 ، 2586 :

حدثنا محمد بن عبد الله بن نمير حدثنا أبي حدثنا زكرياء عن الشعبي عن النعمان بن بشير قال ، قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:

" مثل المؤمنين ، في توادهم وتراحمهم وتعاطفهم ، مثل الجسد ، إذا اشتكى منه عضو تداعى له سائر الجسد بالسهر والحمى ."

In a Hadith narrated by Al-Nu'aman Bin Basheer, may Allah be pleased with him (mabpwh), the Messenger of Allah (pbbuh) said:

"In their compassion and solidarity, believers are like the body. If one organ complains (of sickness or injury), other organs express their solidarity with sleeplessness and fever" (Sahih Muslim, 2586 ، 4685).

المنتقى شرح موطأ مالك - كتاب البيوع - مطل الغني

"يا عبادي إني حرمت الظلم عليكم فلا تظالموا ."

"O My worshippers! I have prohibited oppression, then do not oppress one-another."

أخبرنا قتيبة قال ، حدثنا الليث عن ابن عجلان عن القعقاع بن حكيم عن أبي صالح - ص 105 - عن أبي هريرة ، عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال:

" المسلم من سلم الناس من لسانه ويده والمؤمن من أمنه الناس على دمائهم وأموالهم."

In a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (mabpwh), the Messenger of Allah (pbbuh) said:

"A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand people are safe, and the believer is the one whom people trust on their blood and wealth." (Sunan Al-Nissa-i, 4995).

حدثنا محمد بن عبيد حدثنا زكريا عن عامر ، سمعت عبد الله بن عمرو ، سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول:

" المسلم من سلم الناس من لسانه ويده والمهاجر من هجر ما نهى الله عنه."

In another Hadith narration by Abdullah Bin Amr (mabpwh), the Messenger of Allah (pbbuh) said:

"A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand people are safe, and the muhajir (who leaves for the sake of Allah) is the one who leaves behind what Allah has prohibited" (Musnad Ahmed, 7046).

حدثنا عبد الرزاق أخبرنا معمر عن عاصم بن أبي النجود عن أبي وائل عن معاذ بن جبل في جزء من حديثه عن النبي ، صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ، فقلت يا رسول الله وإنا لمؤاخذون بما نتكلم به ، فقال:

" وهل يكب الناس على وجوههم في النار ، أو قال على مناخرهم ، إلا حصائد ألسنتهم."

In a Hadith narrated by Mu'adh Bin Jabal (mabpwh), the Messenger of Allah (pbbuh) said:

"People are pushed to the Fire on their noses or faces because of what their tongues committed (of lies or verbal abuses)" (Musnad Ahmed, 21511).

سنن الترمذي - كتاب صفة القيامة والرقائق والورع عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم - 2418

حدثنا قتيبة حدثنا عبد العزيز بن محمد عن العلاء بن - ص 530 - عبد الرحمن عن أبيه عن أبي هريرة أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال:

" أتدرون ما المفلس؟ قالوا المفلس فينا يا رسول الله من لا درهم له ولا متاع. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم"

" المفلس من أمتي من يأتي يوم القيامة بصلاته وصيامه وزكاته ، ويأتي قد شتم هذا وقذف هذا وأكل مال هذا وسفك دم هذا وضرب هذا ، فيقعد فيقتص هذا من حسناته وهذا من حسناته ، فإن فنيت حسناته قبل أن يقتص ما عليه من الخطايا أخذ من خطاياهم ، فطرح عليه ثم طرح في النار."

In a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (mabpwh), the Messenger of Allah (pbbuh) said:

"The bankrupt among my Ummah (Community of Muslims) is the one who comes on the Day of Resurrection with his/her (assets of) prayer, fasting, and zakat (charity). However, his/her record will include insulting and slandering of people, consuming their wealth illegally, shedding their blood, or beating them. He/she will sit down and they (his/her victims) start taking rewards of his/her good deeds. If his/her good deeds finish and still there are other victims who demand compensation, then he/she start taking punishment in the Fire, instead of them for their sins." (Sunan Al-Tirmidhiy, 2418).

حدثنا يحيى بن بكير ، حدثنا الليث عن عقيل عن ابن شهاب ، أن سالما أخبره أن عبد الله بن عمر ، رضي الله عنهما ، أخبره أن رسول الله ، صلى الله عليه وسلم ، قال (ص 863 ):

" المسلم أخو المسلم ، لا يظلمه ولا يسلمه ، ومن كان في حاجة أخيه كان الله في حاجته ، ومن فرج عن مسلم كربة فرج الله عنه كربة من كربات يوم القيامة ، ومن ستر مسلما ستره الله يوم القيامة."

In a Hadith narrated by Abdullah Bin Omar (mabpwh and his father), the Messenger of Allah (pbbuh) said:

"A Muslim is a brother to another Muslim, in that he does not oppress him or make him submissive. Whoever helps his brother in satisfying his need, Allah will help him satisfy his own need. Whoever helps a Muslim out of a hurdle (or a crisis), Allah will help him out of his hurdle (or crisis) on the Day of Resurrection. And whoever protects a Muslim from public humiliation, Allah will protect him from public humiliation on the Day of Resurrection" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 2310).

وفي رواية أُخرى ، وردت في "بهجة قلوب الأبرار وقرة عيون الأخيار في شرح جوامع الأخبار" - حديث إن الله يرضى لكم ثلاثا ويكره لكم ثلاثا فيرضى لكم أن تعبدوه ولا تشركوا به شيئا ، قال عليه الصلاة والسلام:

"المسلم أخو المسلم ، لا يظلمه ، ولا يخذله ، ولا يكذبه ، ولا يحقره."

"A Muslim is a brother to another Muslim, in that he does not oppress him, or let him down, or lie to him, or despise him" (Bahjat Quloob Al-Abrar).

صحيح مسلم - كتاب البر والصلة والآداب - 4742 ، 2617 -

حدثنا محمد بن رافع حدثنا عبد الرزاق أخبرنا معمر عن همام بن منبه قال هذا ما حدثنا أبو هريرة ، عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه أنه قال:

" لا يشير أحدكم إلى أخيه بالسلاح فإنه لا يدري أحدكم لعل الشيطان ينزع في يده فيقع في حفرة من النار ."

Allah, praise to Him, wants us to be as peaceful, merciful, compassionate, and beneficial as we can, in order for the human society to prosper and progress, and for people to live in peace and happiness. The way to achieve that is for them to respect each other, to have mercy and compassion towards each other, and to be beneficial to each other.

They should be taught that the human life is sacred. It should not be taken out for fear of poverty or loss of hope. The weak-minded should not be allowed to have access to weapons, by which they may cause harm to others. And when innocent people are killed, perpetrators should be brought to justice to the satisfaction of victims and their families. Absence of justice may lead the victim's family to take the law into their hands, which is harmful to society, as a whole.

A common observation about mass killing of others is that it is perpetrated as a revenge against bullying in schools, places of work, neighborhoods, or in society at large. Victims who receive ridicule, mockery, slander, scorn, insults and offensive nicknames. They feel helpless as authorities usually are not successful in preventing these transgressions or punishing the perpetrators. This feeling may trigger acts of revenge, such as mass shooting, in which innocent people are killed or injured as bystanders, students, or coworkers.

A culture of peace, mercy, and compassion needs to be promoted in society, by all agents of socialization. It should start at the family, but extends to schools, work, media, and places of worship, to replace the prevalent culture of violence, selfishness, and arrogance.

* The Arabic text of the Holy Quran used in this article, and other articles by this author, is from www.tanzil.net. The translation of the verses mentioned in this article is mainly from the Sahih International version but the author is solely responsible for the changes he introduced in the translation.

The Arabic text of the Hadiths mentioned in this article, and other articles by this author, is from the official Saudi Arabian government website http://hadith.al-islam.com/Loader.aspx?pageid=261 but the translation of these Hadiths is the sole responsibility of this author.

2011: 32,163
2010: 31,672
2009: 31,347
2008: 31,593
2007: 31,224
2006: 30,896
2005: 30,694
2004: 29,569
2003: 30,136
2002: 30,242
2001: 29,573
2000: 28,663
1999: 28,874

Facts and statistics about violence, criminal victimization, and violence-related deaths, particularly with relation to the availability of weapons in the United States:

Violent and abusive behavior continues to be a major cause of death, injury, stress, and fear in the U.S.

About 3 out of 10 Americans say they or another member of their household was victimized by crime in the past year, with about 1 in 5 saying that they personally were victimized.

According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, women experience about 4.8 million intimate partner–related physical assaults and rapes every year in this country.

Less than 20% of battered women sought medical treatment following an injury (National Organization for Women, 2009).

The National Crime Victimization Survey, which includes crimes that are not reported to the police, found that 232,960 women were raped or sexually assaulted in 2006.

In 2005, 1,181 women were murdered by an intimate partner (U.S. Department of Justice, 2005).

Of all the women murdered in this country, about 1 in 3 were killed by an intimate partner (U.S. Department of Justice, 2006b).

Suicide took the lives of more than 33,000 people in 2006 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009b).

In 2001 there were 29,573 firearm-related deaths in the United States. In the same year, 56% of all homicides and 55% of all suicides were by firearms (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005).

The rate of gun homicides in America per 100,000 people is almost 7 times higher than in Canada, 28 times higher than in England and Wales, and 198 times higher than in Japan. In 1999–2000 when the United States recorded 10,828 gun homicides, Canada had 183, Germany 103, England and Wales 73, Australia 65, Switzerland 36, Sweden 33, Austria 27, Japan 27, and New Zealand 3, according to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, 2005.

Source: "Marriages and Families: Intimacy, Diversity, and Strengths," By David Olson, John DeFrain, and Linda Skogrand. McGraw Hill, 7th Edition (2011).

* Dr. Hassan Ali El-Najjar is a native speaker of Arabic. He has a Ph.D. in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology.