# Suicide

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.*

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> 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)
>
> — *Suicide*