Do Not Cast Yourselves Into Destruction
fiqh
Level: intermediate
special
fqh-061
وَلَا تُلۡقُواْ بِأَيۡدِيكُمۡ إِلَى ٱلتَّهۡلُكَةِ
— البقرة 195
Verse: "And do not cast yourselves into destruction." (2:195) — Foundation of prohibiting self-harm. Includes: stopping spending in Allah's cause (context) + taking risks that destroy the self + eating what harms + excessive worship until breakdown. Jurisprudential maxim: "No harm and no reciprocal harm" — derived from this verse.
Source: Al-Qurtubi (2/361); Abu Dawud (3479) — Sahih
Question: What jurisprudential maxim is derived from "do not cast yourselves into destruction"?
Answer: "No harm and no reciprocal harm" — Islam forbids harm to oneself and to others. Whatever harms the self is forbidden just as harming others is forbidden.