Is the funeral prayer performed for someone who has committed suicide?

Life is a trust given by Allah to His servant. Just as it is a sin to take someone else’s life, it is equally a grave sin for a person to take his own life. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated in many hadiths how great a sin suicide is and the punishment that awaits the one who commits it. In one hadith, he said: “Whoever throws himself down from a mountain and kills himself will be throwing himself down in the Fire of Hell forever. Whoever drinks poison and kills himself, his poison will be in his hand and he will be sipping it in the Fire of Hell forever. Whoever kills himself with a sharp instrument, that instrument will be in his hand and he will be stabbing himself with it in the Fire of Hell forever.” (Bukhari, Tibb, 56 [5778]) This hadith vividly describes that the severe and lasting punishment awaiting the one who commits suicide in the Hereafter is a direct result of his own action.

Islamic scholars have stated that the mention of eternal punishment in the hadith refers to those who consider suicide lawful and take their own lives, or that it is a figurative expression meaning prolonged punishment. (Ayni, ‘Umda, 21/292)

It is clear that the act of suicide, which means ending the life Allah has graciously entrusted in a manner He does not approve of, cannot be committed with sound mind. However, it is assumed that the person may have taken his own life in a state of insanity, and prayers are made to Allah for his forgiveness. Indeed, scholars, based on the general meaning of the hadith, “Perform the funeral prayer for everyone who says ‘la ilaha illallah’ (there is no god but Allah).” (Tabarani, al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir, 12/447[13622]), have stated that the funeral prayer should be performed for everyone who has uttered the testimony of faith. (Ibn Qudamah, al-Mughni, 2/417; Nawawi, al-Majmu‘, 5/211; Ibn Rushd, Bidayat al-Mujtahid, 1/239)

Source: T.C. Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu