An increasing number of suicides is an alarming trend in Kashmir valley and a matter of concern these days. It is a social evil and threat to mankind and humanity itself as a whole. Rising suicide trend in Kashmir has emerged as one of the biggest challenge for the whole society.
Suicide is a slur on Society and even State of Jammu & Kashmir has not been left untouched by the menace of suicides. It is not unusual to see the reports of suicides in daily newspapers. The purpose of the present study is to find out the role of newspapers in highlighting the increased suicide rates in the Kashmir valley.
Talking exclusively with Asian News Hub, popular religious preacher Hafiz Aadil Ahmad Pala said that the rising trend of suicide in Kashmir has become a very serious issue as young people, women and children are also choosing death over the precious blessing of life.
In Islam, ending one’s life is a serious crime, a grave sin and a cause of punishment, popular religious preacher said, adding that it is strictly forbidden and condemned in the Holy Qur’an and the Ahadeeth as life is the trust of Allah, who alone holds the authority over life and death.
Pala said, The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that, “Whoever throws himself down from a mountain and kills himself will be in the fire of hell, throwing himself down therein for ever and ever. Whoever takes poison and kills himself, his poison will be in his hand and he will be sipping it in the fire of hell forever and ever. Whoever kills himself with a piece of iron, that piece of iron will be in his hand and he will be stabbing himself in the stomach with it in the fire of hell, for ever and ever.” (Bukhari)
He said,“it’s an idea of Shaytaan to drag the believers towards hell-fire”. Never fall into it.
Whenever u feel like ending-up your life say these words, “ Inna Lihalli Wa Inna ilhahi raji’un” because Allah says:“Who say, when afflicted by calamity:“To Allah we belong,and to him is our return:—they are those on whom (descend)blessings of Allah,and mercy,and they are the ones that receive guidance.”
He further said that “Women are far more sensitive and emotionally weaker than men. They have lesser tolerance levels than men, which explains why a higher number of persons who commit suicide belong to the fairer sex”.
He said most of the women, who committed suicide, were generally fed up with marital discord in their lives.
“There might be some young girls also who committed suicide due to failed family issues, depression. There is need for a support system to check the trend of rising suicides,” he added.
Persistent conflict between parents can affect a child’s mental health. It hinders emotional and psychological growth of a child and can impact their ability to form future relationships.” Hafiz Aadil Siddique said that “In extreme cases, they may develop suicidal feelings.”
He said that parents should note what are the daily happenings among their children’s life. “What are the things which ignite emotions in them,” he said, adding that system too needs to be proactive in this matter.
“If we compare Kashmir to western societies the rate is less, but among Muslim societies the suicides in Kashmir are very high -the highest, she says. The reasons are turmoil, modernization, unemployment, business failures etc,” Hafiz Aadil says. Suicide is haram-prohibited in Islam.
We need to pinpoint the causes that are pushing our youth towards this extreme and un-islamic step and then plan a way out how we can prevent the youth from going towards suicides,”there is a need to put efforts to curb the number, adding that the parents can play a pivotal role in this matter. “We should talk to the people facing mental issues and help them to come out from such a situation,” he said.
Notably, “Medical and psychiatric experts believe that the main cause of suicide deaths and suicide attempts is constant financial stress in the families and least physical movement and advise the people to be more interactive with the near and dear ones to overpower the mental stress increased due to covid and financial distress”.