Imam: 'Euthanasia is an act of killing'

The spiritual leader of the Muslim community in Malta, Mohammad Elsadi has told a joint meeting of the social affairs, health and family affairs parliamentary committees currently discussing euthanasia, that according to Islamic teaching, euthanasia, under any circumstances is an act of killing.

“Ending the life of a patient suffering from severe deformity or a hopeless incurable condition or a terminal transmissible disease or severe unbearable pain is not permitted in Islam, it is considered as an act of killing and is a crime punishable by Islamic law,” said the Imam.

He stressed that under Islamic law, neither the patient, nor the family should have the right to request euthanasia and that doctors should not take part in terminating the life of a patient, even at his own request, since death should be "naturally ordained by Allah."

The Imam said that the only “special case” permitted by Islam, is a situation, where “specialised credible doctors are certain that the medication of certain patients is useless, then the suspension of medical treatment may be permissible.”

He added that in cases where patients are certified as being brain dead, then the switching off of life support is also permissible. “While turning off a life support machine is allowed, hastening death by any means is not allowed as this would equate to euthanasia.”

Elsadi went on to explain that, according to Islamic teaching, life is a test and that “while Islam commands Muslims to seek treatment because Allah has made a cure for every illness,” it urges patients to “endure and tolerate their sufferings.” Quoting various passages from the Quran, Elsadi emphasised that the prophet Mohammed forbade Muslims to wish for death to put an end to their sufferings.

Labour whip Godfrey Farrugia, who said that he did not believe euthanasia to be a fundamental human right, pointed out that the position of Islam on the subject was very similar to that of the Catholic church and emphasised that the vast majority of the points mentioned were very similar.

Opposition MP, Paula Mifsud Bonnici, agreed with Farrugia and said that a number of medical experts had also voiced similar views. She asked the Imam whether the position stated by the Imam was backed up by any experts, to which the Imam answered that it was.

Elsadi, concluded by saying that he hoped that “the committee and parliament will consider the stand of Islam and other religions,” adding that he hoped people would not be made to live under laws that were contradictory to their convictions.