Mental Illness And Rulings Of Sharia On Such Person
It is responsibility of every Muslim to seek cure of his illness and obligatory to opt the cure which is universally accepted as a medical cure for that illness. This applies equally to both physical and mental ailments. ( Please see : Discussion 87885 ). The directives of religion only deal with pe ople who are sane and have control of their senses. If someone becomes insane or his senses are damaged in some way then the level of accountability will also be reduced proportionately to commensurate the loss of those senses. As per Quran, every person will be held accountable on the day of judgement according to their level of environment, resources, knowledge and with due regard given to other constraints etc. Quran Says : وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءهُمْ عَمَّا جَاءكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَـكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَآ آتَاكُم فَاسْتَبِقُوا الخَيْرَاتِ إِلَى الله مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ Then [O Prophet!] We have revealed to you this Book with truth in corroboration of the Book before it, and standing as a guardian over it. Therefore, give judgement among them according to the guidance revealed by God, and do not yield to their whims by swerving from the truth revealed to you. For each of you, We have ordained a shariah that is a line of action. Had God pleased, He could have made of you one community: [but he did not do this] because He wanted to try you by what He has blessed you with . So, try to outdo one another in good deeds. To God shall you all [one day] return. Then He shall disclose upon you all your differences . (Quran 5:48) AND لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللّهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا “ God does not burden a person beyond his capacity “ (Quran 2:286) Therefore, a person suffering from such illness should try to follow directives of Sharia to the best of his ability, and if there is some unintentional negligence because of the illness, then hopefully they will be forgiven by Allah and the excuse of such person will be acceptable in the light of Quran.