Fatma Zehra Fidan
Background: The primary reason for the social stigma faced by survivors of suicide is that suicide is prohibited by many religions. The contradiction between their religious beliefs and emotions negatively affects the lives of these survivors.
Purpose: To understand the emotions and thoughts of survivors regarding Islamic rulings on suicide and the spiritual status of the deceased after death.
Method: In-depth interviews were conducted with sixteen survivors of suicide, and the data were analyzed using content analysis. The main criterion for participant selection was having a close relative who had died by suicide. Fourteen women and two men were interviewed. In-depth interviews and content analysis are among the most appropriate techniques for exploring participants' emotions, thoughts, and the concepts that can explain the data.
Findings: “Religious Meaning of Suicide and Internal Conflict” The relatives of those who died by suicide experience a deep conflict between the religious meaning of suicide and the emotional bond they had with the deceased.
Religious Beliefs and Judgments: While all participants accepted the religious stance on suicide, they began to think that religious rulings could be more flexible.
Personal Losses and Feelings of Guilt: Some participants suffered more due to feeling that they could have prevented the suicide.
Social and Cultural Influences: Social and cultural judgments have restricted the mental and physical spaces of suicide survivors.
Emotional Healing: Certain religious rituals have contributed to the emotional healing of participants.
Conclusion: The proposed solutions can be summarized under the following headings.
