SUICIDE

What! Would ye kill him whom God hath quickened, whom He hath endowed with spirit through a breath from Him? Grievous then would be your trespass before His throne! 

(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, Page 46)

'Abdu'l-Baha, in replying to a bereaved widow whose husband had taken his own life, stated the following:

"As to thy husband, rest assured. He will be immersed in the ocean of pardon and forgiveness and will become the recipient of bounty and favour." 

('Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p. 201)

2044. No Comfort in This World 

".... no comfort can be secured by any soul in this world, from monarch down to the most humble commoner. If once this life should offer a man a sweet cup, a hundred bitter ones will follow; such is the condition of this world. The wise man, therefore, doth not attach himself to this mortal life and doth not depend upon it; at some moments, even, he eagerly wisheth for death that he may thereby be freed from these sorrows and afflictions. Thus it is seen that some, under extreme pressure of anguish, have committed suicide." 

('Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p. 200) (Lights of Guidance, Page 602)

674. Suicide strongly condemned in the teachings 

"Regarding the 'In Memoriam' section of 'Baha'i News': although suicide is so strongly condemned in the teachings, it does not mean that a person has ceased to be a Baha'i because he killed himself; he should, therefore, be mentioned, the same as other believers, in this section." 

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, March 29, 1945)

675. The Light Manifested by Baha"u"llah can Easy Despair of Young People

"It is too bad that young and promising men, who if they remain living can render great services to humanity, should take away their life at a moment of despair. "The world, especially in these days, is full of woes and sufferings. We should be brave and have a stout heart. Trials and tribulations should arise in us added vigor and greater determination and not dampen our zeal and kill our spirit." 

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, March 12, 1933)

1200. Suicide is Forbidden in the Cause

"Suicide is forbidden in the Cause. God Who is the Author of all life can alone take it away, and dispose of it in the way He deems best. Whoever commits suicide endangers his soul, and will suffer spiritually as a result in the other Worlds Beyond." 

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, August 25, 1939) (Lights of Guidance, Page 357)

Nabil's suicide was not insanity but love. He loved Baha'u'llah too much to go on in a world that no longer held Him. 

(Shoghi Effendi, Unfolding Destiny, Page 406)

Euthanasia "As to the Baha'i viewpoint on the removal or withholding of life support in medical cases where intervention prolongs life in disabling illness, nothing has been found in the Sacred Text specifically on this matter. In such cases decisions must be left to those responsible, including the patient." 

(Written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, May 31, 1979)

"We have received your letter of March 18, 1974, in which you ask for the Baha'i viewpoint on euthanasia and on the removal of life support in medical cases where physiological interventions prolong life in disabling illness. In general our teachings indicate that God, the Giver of life, can alone dispose of it as He deems best, and we have found nothing in the Sacred Text on these matters specifically but in a letter to an individual written on behalf of the beloved Guardian by his secretary regarding mercy killings, or legalized euthanasia, it is stated: . . . This is also a matter which the Universal House of Justice will have to legislate. "Until such time as the Universal House of Justice considers legislation on euthanasia, decisions in the matters to which you refer must be left to the consciences of those responsible." 

(Developing Distinctive Baha'i Communities, Pg 18.9-Pg 18.10)

677. One Should Put All Thought of Suicide and Death out of Mind

"In reply to your letter of 1 May 1979, the Universal House Of Justice has instructed us to share with you the following excerpt from a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi by his secretary to a believer who asked about suicide. "'suicide is forbidden in the Cause. God Who is the Author of all life can alone take it away, and dispose of it the way he deems best. Whoever commits suicide endangers his soul, and will suffer spiritually as a result in the other worlds beyond.' "the House of Justice admonishes you to put all thought of suicide and death out of your mind and concentrate on prayer and effort to serve the Cause of Baha'u'llah." 

(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, June 7, 1979) (Lights of Guidance, Page 203)