Short answer
Not because of hardship. The Prophet ﷺ forbade wishing for death because of a harm that strikes you. If you must, say: O Allah, keep me alive as long as life is better for me, and take me when death is better for me. Asking to die as a Muslim, or as a martyr, is allowed.
Wishing for death because of worldly hardship, illness or pain is makruh (disliked). Scholars allowed it out of fear of losing one's faith in severe trials, and asking for a good end or for martyrdom is recommended.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Pain, illness, debt or grief can make life feel too heavy, and wishing it would all end is a very human feeling. Allah knows what you are carrying. The sunnah gives a better path than asking for death, and the four schools agree on it.
The Prophet ﷺ said that none of you should wish for death because of a harm that has struck him. If he must, let him say: Allahumma ahyini ma kanatil-hayatu khayran li, wa tawaffani idha kanatil-wafatu khayran li (O Allah, keep me alive while life is good for me, and take me when death is good for me).
- Life is a chance for more good deeds and more tawbah.
- Patience in hardship wipes away sins and raises your rank.
- You do not know what relief Allah has prepared for you tomorrow.
- Asking Allah to let you die as a Muslim, as Yusuf did, is allowed.
- Asking for a good end, and to meet Allah while He is pleased with you, is allowed.
- Asking for martyrdom in His path is allowed.
- Scholars allowed wishing for death out of fear of being forced away from your faith.
If these thoughts stay with you, or you think about harming yourself, please do not carry it alone. Speak today to someone you trust: a doctor, an imam or a crisis line in your country. Seeking help is part of trusting Allah. See mental health in Islam and the dua for depression and sadness.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Yusuf 12:101
۞ رَبِّ قَدْ ءَاتَيْتَنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِى مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِىِّۦ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِى مُسْلِمًۭا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ﴿١٠١﴾
My Lord, You have given me [something] of sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous."
Asking for a good death, not for death itself, is the prophetic way.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:286
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًۭا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦﴾
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."
Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5671
Sahih... لا يتمنين أحدكم الموت من ضر أصابه فإن كان لا بد فاعلا فليقل ...
"None of you should wish for death because of a harm that has struck him; if he must, let him say a dua instead."
This forbids wishing for death over hardship and gives the words to say.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha. Wishing for death because of hardship, and the exception for fear for one's faith.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.