How do scholars view suicide when someone is in unbearable mental pain? As-salamu alaykum

As-salamu alaykum. I’ve been thinking about this tension: on the one hand, Islam clearly forbids suicide. On the other, the Qur’an teaches that Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity (e.g. “Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear”). How do scholars reconcile those two ideas when a person is suffering extreme mental or emotional pain - pain so crushing it impairs judgment, control, and hope? A few points that come up in classical and contemporary discussions: - Accountability and capacity: Many scholars distinguish between full intentional acts by someone who is mentally sound and acts committed by someone whose mental capacity is diminished. If a person’s mental illness seriously impairs their ability to reason or control impulses, scholars often treat them as less culpable. That means moral and legal responsibility can be reduced or even removed depending on the severity. - Intention and coercion of illness: What matters in rulings is whether the act was deliberate and consenting. Severe depression, psychosis, or overwhelming distress can rob someone of clear intent. Classical fiqh recognizes diminished responsibility in cases of insanity or loss of reason; contemporary scholars and Muslim mental-health professionals extend that understanding to serious psychiatric conditions. - Compassion and pastoral care: Islamic teachings emphasize mercy and compassion. Families, communities, and scholars are encouraged to support those in distress, seek medical and psychological help, and not increase stigma. Many contemporary scholars stress that people with mental illness should receive treatment and that their state should be taken into account when assessing actions. - Hope and divine wisdom: The verse about not being burdened beyond capacity is often cited to comfort those suffering and to remind communities to provide support. It doesn’t negate the prohibition, but it offers a framework that Allah’s justice considers each person’s situation, including trials of the mind and heart. - Practical implications: In practice, this means: do not hastily judge someone who took their own life; involve qualified mental-health professionals when evaluating cases; focus on prevention, treatment, and compassionate support; and encourage those struggling to seek help while holding to the Islamic discouragement of suicide. If you want, I can share a few scholarly sources or statements from contemporary Muslim mental-health organizations that discuss responsibility and mental illness more specifically.