The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam — Page 213
207 misled by the mention of his death in the cause of God and for the good of His creatures, into thinking that he had at any time (God forbid) contemplated destroying himself, imagining like the ignorant and the insane, that his suicide would be of benefit to others. He was entirely free from any such stupid line of thinking and was wholly opposed to it. The Holy Quran esteems anyone who is guilty of self destruction as a great offender, liable to severe chastisement, as it says: وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ 239 that is to say, do not commit suicide and do not become the cause of your own destruction. It is obvious that if X suffers from pain in the stomach, it would be futile for Y to break his own head out of pity for X. That would be no virtuous deed but only needless suffering through stupidity. In the circumstances it would have been virtuous on the part of Y to minister to X in an appropriate and useful manner, for instance, by procuring medical advice and the required medicines for him. His breaking his own head would do no good to X. It would be the infliction of needless suffering upon a noble part of his own body. In short the true meaning of the verse cited above is, that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, out 239. And cast not yourselves into ruin with your own hands, (The Holy Quran, al-Baqarah 2:196)