Sanctity of human life is a basic islamic concept;
All Muslims believe that ALLAH/THE GOD,is the Creator and the Owner of all life.
He starts human life from conception and He only will end it through natural death.The moment of death is fixed only by our Creator.

There are many verses in the final Holy Book AL QUR'AN which emphasize these basic islamic beliefs:
"DO NOT KILL YOURSELVES,FOR VERILY ALLAH HAS BEEN TO YOU MOST MERCIFUL"
(chapter 4,verse 29)

"....TAKE NOT LIFE WHICH ALLAH HAS MADE SACRED"
(chapter 6,verse 151)

"AND(ALLAH) IS THE ONE WHO GAVE YOU LIFE,THEN SHALL HE ORDAIN YOU TO DIE,THEN SHALL HE GIVE YOU YOUR LIFE AGAIN,TRULY MANKIND IS UNGRATEFUL"
(chapter 22,verse 66)

According to these clear Holy Scriptures:
Suicide,attempted suicide,assisted suicide(Euthanasia) and abortion are all PROHIBITED in Islam,as well as the life of any innocent child,civilian or old or disabled .

There is a clear saying of the final prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) which prohibited all types/methods of suicide like: taking a poison,jumping from a mountain or by using an iron instrument..! otherwise hell is the punishment!
All types of euthanasia are prohibited in Islam:

Direct or deliberate euthanasia(voluntary and involuntary),assisted suicide,indirect euthanasia and passive euthanasia(as stated by the European Council for Fatwa and Research, in Europe).

It is forbidden to end deliberately( by intention) or to hasten the death of any person.
Food and fluid are basic human rights and needs to be provided for every human being whether one is sick or healthy.
It is prohibited too to stop any life saving treatment.

we muslims OPPOSE strongly any measure to STOP/WITHDRAW food and fluid from any patient,whether he/she is conscious or not( in coma),child or old,disabled or with terminal illness.
Any medicine/analgesic which hasten death is to be avoided.

So called living will(death/killing will) is prohibited in islam, but muslims are requested to do quickly during their life:one type of will : to deal with assets and the distribution of the inheritance.(OUR LIVING WILL IS TO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF THE CREATOR..!)

No believer has the right to decide about ending his/her life at any time and at any stage of the illness!
Muslim believe that for every disease there is a cure,as stated by the prophet:HOPE THERAPY! also the belief that we do not own our bodies,my body belongs to the Creator,the Designer ,the real Owner!

They also believe in accepting any hardship suffering or illness and to be patient,as it takes all the previous sins away (purification) ..! but one should try before to avoid any illness and one is allowed to take the best treatment or best effective analgesic.
Palliative care is recommended in Islam and the best hospice for the muslim is to die at home with family members around.

This is the BEST DIGNIFIED DEATH/BEST DEATH ,natural death according to GOD's plan and not according to doctor's , Judge or family's plan or decision.
This is also for THE BEST INTEREST for every muslim patient!

We muslims have put a submission before to oppose:
-WITHHOLDING/WITHDRAWING LIFE PROLONGED TREATMENTS: GOOD PRACTICE IN DECISION MAKING.
-THE MENTAL CAPACITY BILL

And we oppose strongly now:LORD JOFFE's Bill ..as it is clearly a Bill for euthanasia!
(and we hope all muslims do write to their MPs and to the LORDS to drop this inhumane barbaric euthanasia Bill?).

Muslim doctors/any doctor, should have the HUMAN RIGHT/Religious belief/CONSCIENCIOUS objection to avoid any step which will hasten the death or kill the patient.

For a doctor to end the life of any patient,even following patient's request,is the BIGGEST BETRAYAL OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION!

Life is a great GIFT from ALLAH..to be cherished and to be protected by all means.

Muslim doctors,nurses and patients should all have this basic belief and attitude to human life: FULL RESPECT AND

FULL PROTECTION OF ANY HUMAN LIFE:They all are PRO-LIFE!

Finally,as people feel more pressurised today to ask for euthanasia ,it will be wise to address all the underlying factors and reasons which do lead them to take this most serious drastic step or decision, like:

*Belief in the Creator,THE ONLY GOD,the Owner of all life.
*Belief in the after life/Heaven and hell...
*The feeling of been a burden on the family/NHS.../love,care and support and counselling.
*Hospice facility/Palliative care and better stronger analgesics
*The treatment of any depression/subclinical
*The hope of a new treatment or cure
*The sedative healing effect of the prayer
*The high rewards in accepting suffering
*Etc...

Dr A.Majid Katme(MBBCh,DPM)
Muslim Coordinator to SPUC
Pro-life Pro-family Muslim Campaigner(UK/UN)
T: 07944 240 622 E mail address: akatme@hotmail.com