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Drugs in Islam a taboo? – An intriguing 3 minute read!

by | Jan 5, 2022

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 What does Quran say about drugs in Islam? What does Islam tell us about drug addiction? Why are Drugs in Islam prohibited? What happens to the soul of the person suffering from an addictive disorder? What happens to his relationship with God? Why is alcohol haram in Islam? Are Drugs in Islam Haram? What is the impact of drugs on individuals, families, friends, and society? What are the sayings of Alcohol and drugs in Islam? These are some questions that this article tries to answer.

What does Drug Addiction mean?

Drugs in the dictionary are defined as medicine or other substance which has a psychological effect when injected or ingested into the body. Repeated intake of drugs can lead to Addiction. Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that negatively affects a person’s brain and behavior. It is a brain disease that causes a person to take drugs repeatedly, despite the harm they cause.

Addiction is meant to harm yourself, and Allah never allowed us to harm ourselves or put a burden on our souls. 

It is narrated in the Quran. 

وَأَنفِقوا في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ وَلا تُلقوا بِأَيديكُم إِلَى التَّهلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحسِنوا ۛ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ المُحسِنينَ

And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do well; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.

Risk Factors leading to Addiction.

  • Genetic 
  • Environmental influences
  • Mental disturbance
  • Adverse Childhood Experience 
  • Social Pressure
  • Family Ignorance 
  • Early Use of drugs
  • Use of drugs that are highly addictive

Why are Drugs in Islam prohibited?

Islam prioritizes the well-being and healthof its people. Drugs in Islam are prohibited because no one is allowed to harm oneself in any way or form. Muslims are requested to take care of their body Allah Almighty entrusts it. 

Allah said in Quran:

‏يَٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ لَا يَضُرُّكُم مَّن ضَلَّ إِذَا ٱهْتَدَيْتُمْ ۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًۭا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُون

Believers, look after your souls; it cannot harm you if anyone else goes astray, provided that you yourselves are on the right path. To Allah shall you all return: then He will let you know what you have been doing? (Al-Quran 5:105)

What does Quran say about Drugs?

The Qur’an is dubious regarding drug use, although it discusses intoxicants (khamr) and, more specifically, Alcohol. Alcohol is haram in Islam for specific reasons; the Qur’an calls Alcohol the “Handiwork of Satan.”Before being Drugs in Islam prohibited by Quranic revelation, the early Arab Muslims indulged in wine and took much pleasure in intoxication. Drugs in Islam were gradually prohibited in three phases, with the final prohibition being revealed in the fifth Hijri in Medina.

The word used in the Holy Quran for wine is “khumr,” which means something that affects the senses or exhilarates the brain to make it lose its power to control. Thus Khumr signifies all intoxicants, which means poisons. Drugs in Islam are prohibited not just because they are intoxicant but also because they could devote Muslims to forgetting their prayer and Allah.

It is narrated in Quran: 

يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنَّمَا الۡخَمۡرُ وَالۡمَيۡسِرُ وَالۡاَنۡصَابُ وَالۡاَزۡلَامُ رِجۡسٌ مِّنۡ عَمَلِ الشَّيۡطٰنِ فَاجۡتَنِبُوۡهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُوۡنَ‏

“Oh, you who believe Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks) and gambling and Al-Ansah (stone-alter on which animals are slaughter for the idols) and Al-Azlam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Satan’s handwork so avoid that so that you may be successful.” (Al-Quran 5:90)

Many people question what satan handiwork means or why drugs in Islam are called satan’s handwork. Drugs in Islam are called satan’s handwork because people’s behavior after being intoxicated is the main reason they get their minds out of control and make them entirely out of their senses. And even they are not conscious about their prayers and other duties, of course. Allah Almighty has narrated using intoxicants, amongst other things, as offensive, awful, andevil deeds of Satan, and He has controlled us to withhold from them. The verse tells us that it is Satan’s disgraceful act because intoxicants can prevent one from remembering Allah.

إِنَّما يُريدُ الشَّيطانُ أَن يوقِعَ بَينَكُمُ العَداوَةَ وَالبَغضاءَ فِي الخَمرِ وَالمَيسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُم عَن ذِكرِ اللَّهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلاةِ ۖ فَهَل أَنتُم مُنتَهونَ

Satan plans to stir up hostility and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling and prevent you from remembering Allah and praying. Will you not then abstain?
(Al-Quran 5:91)

The Quran also warns that Alcohol contains both benefit and sin but is greater than the benefit. Alcohol has a beneficial effect as well. It will help people for their mental peace, but it has more disadvantages; it affects different body organs and destroys the relation between Allah Almighty and human beings.

Allah said in the Quran, 

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ كَذَلِكَ يُبيِّنُ اللّهُ لَكُمُ الآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ

They ask you (o Muhammad) about wine and gambling. Say in both there are great sins and some benefits for the people. And their sin is more significant than their benefit. And they ask so to what they should spend. Say “The Surplus” this is how Allah makes His verses clear to you so that you may reflect. (Al-Quran 2:219)

What is the perspective of Drugs in Hadith?

Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) forbids his Ummah from drugs. Alcohol has been stated as the mother of all evils, and today science proves this statement’s reality. It affects physical and mental health, but it increases the crime factor in society. 

Many Muslims questioned that Muslims could take drugs in Islam; Alcohol and other drugs in Islam are called intoxicants, haram in Islam.

Hazrat Muhammad SAWW said: 

“Alcohol is the mother of all evils, and it is the most shameful of evils.” 

Holy Prophet SAWW cursed ten kinds of people associated with an alcoholic beverage. 

The Messenger of Allah said,

لُعِنَتِ الْخَمْرُ عَلَى عَشَرَةِ أَوْجُهٍ بِعَيْنِهَا وَعَاصِرِهَا وَمُعْتَصِرِهَا وَبَائِعِهَا وَمُبْتَاعِهَا وَحَامِلِهَا وَالْمَحْمُولَةِ إِلَيْهِ وَآكِلِ ثَمَنِهَا وَشَارِبِهَا وَسَاقِيهَا ‏

Allah has cursed Khamr (Alcohol and other drugs) and those who make it themselves, those who help make it, those who use it, those who use it, those to whom it is carried, those who give it to others, those who sell it, those who use the money made from it, those who purchased and those from whom it is purchased. (Al-Hadith)

The above Hadith mentioned the answers to the following questions. Is selling drugs in Islam are haram? Is the usage of the drug in Islam a sin? Is it haram to work in the brewery? What does Allah say about drugs? Is Alcohol is halal or haram in Islam?

It is also stated that a person addicted to Alcohol Allah has forbidden them from entering paradise, will never fulfill their wishes, and will not accept their prayers for forty days. 

Holy Prophet SAWW said,

“Three types of people Allah Almighty have forbidden from entering paradise one who addicted to alcoholdisobeying his parents and the one accepting and happy with filth (the evil deeds) in his household.”

“If any man from among my Ummah drinks wine and gets drunk, Allah will not accept his prayers for forty days, and if he dies, he will enter Hell, but if he repents, Allah will accept His repentance. (Al-Hadith)

What are the Impacts of Drugs? 

The consequences of the drug cause permanent physical and emotional harm to users and negatively affect their families, coworkers, and those they have contact. 

The drug harms users’ health, often leading to sickness and disease. It is narrated in Quran it has benefits and evil effects. 

Beneficial Effects

  • Relief of anxiety
  • Increased self-confidence
  • Euphoria
  • Sedation

Effect of Drugs on Individual 

Drugs are chemical that doesn’t only affect physical but also mental health. The primary compelling personality of drug abuse is the individual itself. Some effects of drugs include health effects that are long-lasting and endless. They can even continue after a person has stopped taking the drugs.

When a person takes or uses a drug, it is absorbed into your bloodstream. How quickly it happens depends on the drug itself and how it takes the drugs. There are three different ways of drugs intake, i.e., inhalation, ingestion, and injection. The injection process is directly injected into the bloodstream, affecting rapidly, whereas ingestion is slow. Once it enters the bloodstream, it circulates in your body via blood that affects different organs of the body. 

The side effect of drugs include:

  • Human brain structure and function 
  • Weakened immune system 
  • Effects heart functional 
  • Nausea and Abdominal Pain 
  • Change in appetite and weight loss
  • Seizures, strokes, and mental confusion 
  • Lung diseases 
  • Memory loss
  • HIV/AIDS virus 
  • Kidney damage

The most severe consequence of drugs is death. Almost 11.8 million people die just because of drugs worldwide. The main risk factor of early ages includes smoking, Alcohol, and drugs. It counts almost 11.4 million die prematurely per year. According to research, almost 35,000 die from overdoses each year, and most are above 50. Almost 41% of accident deaths are due to drugs because even if you take fewer drugs, it reduces your driving skill and affects your brain. 

Effect of Drugs on Family and Friends 

Drugs addiction affects the entire family in many ways. The family immediately feels the impact when their loved one has drug problems. Each family and each relation has a different dynamic. Not all of them feel the same effects to the same extent. It’s impossible to deny that Addiction affects the entire family. 

Every relation has a different impact on drug addiction. In contrast, children with a parent addicted to drugs grow up with less support and guidance, whereas parents with an addicted child have to face a different set of problems. Siblings have to face different aspects of life. Spouses of an addicted person also experience an extraordinary impact.

The main impact of drug addiction on family includes  

  • Relationships
  • Affects Children
  • Affects Friendships 
  • Parents health issues 
  • Financial Hardships
  • Increased risk of Abuse
  • More Addiction in the family 

 Effect of Drugs on society

Drug addiction affects individuals or families and affects societies and communities. The impact is wide-ranging and astonishing. For instance, a more significant number of substance abuse-related crimes means a community must fund more police officers. Jails have to increase personnel staffing because of an increase in the number of inmates. Courts can become overburdened with too many drug cases, and the victims may incur costs. Suppose a community experiences a rash of drug-related crimes. In that case, it could gain a reputation for its immoral neighborhoods and experience a loss of belongings values and sales tax income as people move out or avoid visiting or living there.

The main impact of drug abuse on society include

  • Effect on Economy 
  • High cost of Drug abuses
  • Sexual assault 
  • Increase in Crime rates

There are countless effects of drugs physically, mentally, spiritually, so if anyone is involved in drugs, they should stop and seek help. And mainly, they should seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty and ask Allah Almighty for help.

May Allah protect all of us from this evil act. 

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