Articles

The Islamic Perspective on Drugs
Author : Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi
Date Added : 21-10-2024

 

All praise is due to Allah, Who created all of creation to worship Him, and placed reason within them to know Him, and bestowed upon them His blessings, both apparent and hidden, so that they may be grateful. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, his companions, and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgment.

Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination of Satan’s handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper." [Al-Ma`idah/90].

In His Book, the Quran, Allah, The Exalted, has forbidden wine and cursed the one who drinks it, serves it, carries it, or has it carried to him. It is the mother of all evils and the root of all wickedness. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Wine is the mother of all evils, and whoever drinks it, Allah will not accept his prayer for forty days. And if he dies with it in his stomach, he will die the death of one belonging to the Days of Ignorance/Pre-Islamic times." [At-Tabari]. Indeed, Islamic law has prohibited alcohol to ward off harm from humans and to protect religion, intellect, self, and wealth. If the reason for prohibiting alcohol is intoxication and the harm it causes, then any substance that leads to the loss of reason and causes intoxication takes on the same ruling. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Every intoxicant is wine, and every intoxicant is forbidden." [Moslim].

Therefore, the Prophet (PBUH) affirms in this hadith that whatever causes the same effect as wine is also prohibited. Consequently, drugs and intoxicants of all kinds, which have a more severe and harmful impact on the body and mind than wine, are also prohibited based on the Sharia rulings that prohibit wine.

Drugs uncover the sins of a person, reveal secrets, and plunge their user into a world of sin. Drugs are a fast track to vice, a path that shatters all prohibitions. They tear away modesty and extinguish the flame of jealousy from hearts. Drugs are a slow suicide, a destruction of the soul, and a ruin of the body. They offer a poisoned present and an uncertain future, leading either to suicide or imprisonment. Allah, The Exalted Says (What means): "And do not kill yourselves, indeed, Allah is ever Merciful to you." [An-Nisa/29].

O Allah, how many lives have been lost, how many families have been torn apart, how many honors have been tarnished, how many minds have been impaired, and how much wealth has been squandered because of these poisons. O Allah, how many mothers and fathers have wept due to these poisons. How many wives have been widowed, and how many children have been orphaned, with fathers complaining and mothers weeping, wives bewildered, and children lost. O Allah, how much poverty and humiliation have these poisons brought, and how many blessings have they denied. O Allah, how much sorrow, regret, misfortune, and premature death have these poisons caused. Truly, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was truthful when he said: "Do not drink alcohol, for it is the key to all evil." [Ibn Majah].

A drug user is corrupting both their religion and body, committing a crime against themselves, their family, and society. They are toying with their dignity and the essence of their humanity. When their mind is absent, they forget their Lord and forget themselves, becoming like animals, if not more misguided. They may kill, steal, or sell themselves, their honor, and their wealth for the sake of a pill or a dose of intoxicants.

Young people in the prime of their lives have been lost, or they remain a burden on their families and communities. They could have been constructive elements contributing to the development of their nations, striving for the happiness of their families, building their countries, and raising the dignity of their relatives. Instead, drugs have turned them into harmful creatures that destroy rather than build, causing harm, showing no regard for morality, religion, or honor.

The horrific crimes that result from drug use send chills down the spine and are beyond imagination; their atrocities are too terrible to describe. They serve as a warning signal that necessitates our awareness and caution regarding these dangers, urging us to protect our children from the threats posed by drugs.

Therefore, my dear youth, take care of yourselves for the sake of Allah. Actually, you are facing dangerous conspiracies, criminal gangs, fierce attacks, and malicious, hostile plans launched by your enemy through all means. They use cunning methods, hidden deadly weapons, and alluring names to deceive you into thinking that these substances bring happiness, excitement, enhance memory, and help with studying. However, in reality, they are poisons aimed at destroying the most precious asset of this nation: its intellect. These poisons pollute minds and corrupt thoughts. They are tools that aim to undermine the morals of this nation, and its beating heart—its men of tomorrow and the builders of its civilization.

Therefore, be aware, O youth of the nation, and beware of bad companions, those weak in character and devoid of dignity. Drugs are not something to be experimented with; for one pill may be your end, one pill may lead you to addiction, one pill may be enough to ruin your life and future, and one pill may drag you into prisons or rehabilitation centers.

Beware of bad company, for the Prophet (PBUH) said: "A person follows the religion of his close friend, so one should consider whom they befriend.” [Ibn Al-Subki in Tabaqat Al-Shafi'iyyah]. Do not let yourselves become slaves to drugs, driven by a fleeting thrill or momentary pleasure, only to become captives in the hands of dealers and corruptors. The pleasures will vanish, but the regrets will remain. The fleeting desires will fade, but the tears will endure.

The dealers of these poisonous substances, the corrupters on earth, care only about making a profit. Their concern is to drive luxurious cars, to build lavish mansions. They do not care who the victim is. They have no regard for young people in the prime of their lives who have destroyed themselves and their futures. They are indifferent to the tears of a grieving mother watching her child fall prey to drugs. They care nothing for religion, morals, honor, or country. These killers, these corrupters on earth, have stripped themselves of their religion and humanity.

It is our duty to stand in their way because the fight against drugs is a collective responsibility. It does not rest solely on the shoulders of security forces, although we pray for their success and guidance in their work. They risk their lives day and night to protect us, our land, and our nation from this scourge. The responsibility also falls on each one of us. You stand on a crucial front for your nation, so do not allow harm to come from your side.

Drug dealers see schools and universities, where young men and women gather, as fertile grounds for spreading their poison and promoting their merchandise. They set their traps to lure their prey toward destruction and loss. So, be vigilant and cautious of this danger.

These poison dealers are tantamount to a malicious hand, which must be severed, reaching out to our children. Moreover, drugs are a chronic disease that must be eradicated, and this can only be achieved through the collective efforts of all—fathers, mothers, schools, universities, the media, institutions, seminars, and lectures. Together, we must fortify our society and families against this dangerous plague and lethal poison. Allah speaks the truth when He Says (What means): "O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded." [At-Tahrim/6].

We ask Allah to protect our nation and leader, King Abdullah II, from all harm.

 

 

هذا المقال يعبر عن رأي كاتبه، ولا يعبر بالضرورة عن رأي دائرة الإفتاء العام

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible for a person who had vowed to give a certain amount of money to another, but didn`t find the latter to donate that money to the mosque?

In principle, the vowing person should abide by his vow as much as possible. Therefore, if he couldn`t find the person that he had made the vow for, then the vow itself is countless and nothing is due on its maker. However, if the latter happens to find the former later on then, he has to give him that money.

During a flight from Amman to the UAE, while we were flying over Saudi Arabia, the captain announced that it was time to break our fast, coinciding with the exact time of sunset. After I had broken my fast with my first date, the captain apologized for the earlier announcement and clarified that the correct time would be in 20 minutes. Am I required to continue fasting on that day?

Whosoever break his fast at teh very first announcement to make up the missed day of Ramadan, since Allah, The Most Exalted, Said (What means): "then complete your fast Till the night appears" [Al-Baqara/187]. And Allah Knows Best.

My husband wanted to sell a piece of land that was his own, but his father insisted that he transfer the land in his (the father’s) name so that he could sell it at a higher price. Then, my husband and his father would split the price. After my father-in-law sold the land, he denied everything and refused to acknowledge my husband’s right. My father-in-law passed away a year ago, and my husband’s brothers divided the inheritance, refusing to acknowledge that this land was a trust held by their father for my husband until it was sold. Are they sinful for knowingly denying that the land belongs to my husband, and what is the ruling on praying against them?
 
 
 
 
 

All perfect praise be to Alalh, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.
Among the rights of the deceased upon their heirs are: preparing them for burial at death, settling their debts, returning people’s rights to them, executing their will, and then dividing their estate. What was mentioned in the question falls under the rights of others, even if they are among the heirs, and the deceased is not absolved of it unless it is returned to its rightful owners. This is because Allah, Almighty, forbids consuming others' wealth/properties unjustly. However, do not give up on seeking a solution by involving righteous and well - respected individuals who may have influence over them, in the hope that Allah guides them to goodness and correctness. As for supplicating against them, the prayer of the oppressed is not rejected, even if the oppressed person is not a Muslim. And Allah knows best.
 
 
 
 
 

Is it allowed to shave my beard to join the army taking into consideration that I can`t find a job?

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The army should be joined in preparation for Jihad (Fighting in the cause of Allah), so if Jihad contradicts with growing a beard then it is allowed to shave it. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.