Modern society grapples with complex ethical questions like euthanasia and the existence of extraterrestrial life. In this segment of the Contemporary Issues series, Dr. Bilal Philips provides clear Islamic perspectives on both topics, demonstrating that Islam offers rational, principled guidance for every challenge humanity faces — including those at the cutting edge of modern debate.
Euthanasia: Why “Mercy Killing” Is Neither Merciful Nor Permissible
Euthanasia — the deliberate ending of a person’s life to relieve suffering — is forbidden in Islam, whether active (injecting a lethal substance) or passive (withholding life-sustaining treatment). The secular argument for euthanasia rests on the assumption that life’s only purpose is enjoyment, and if that enjoyment is gone, life has no meaning. Islam rejects this premise entirely. Life’s purpose is to worship Allah, and suffering itself serves a divine purpose: the purification of sins.
“The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that if a believer is pricked by a thorn and is patient with it, sins are removed from him. Suffering at the end of life, borne with patience, can purify a person of sins before they meet their Lord. To end that life prematurely is to deny them this purification.” — Dr. Bilal Philips
The Question of Aliens
- Islam teaches that humans are not alone in the universe — but the “aliens” are not beings from other planets. They are the jinn, a parallel creation made from smokeless fire, invisible to humans, possessing free will like us
- UFO sightings and paranormal encounters are best explained through the world of the jinn, who can take various forms and interact with the physical world
- The Quran addresses the jinn extensively — an entire chapter (Surah Al-Jinn) is dedicated to them
- Islam’s message is clear: there is only One God, and both humans and jinn were created to worship Him alone, without intermediaries
“Human beings cannot create life from inanimate matter. Life is external to matter — it is created by God alone. This fundamental truth applies whether we are discussing test tube experiments or searching the cosmos for alien life.”
Islam provides guidance for every question humanity will ever face — from the most ancient moral dilemmas to the most modern scientific debates. The answer always returns to the same foundation: trust in Allah’s wisdom, follow His guidance, and understand that this life is a temporary test with an eternal purpose far greater than mere physical comfort.
