The young Muslims of today are facing
an ever-increasing number of
dilemmas. One of these is drugs. What
does Islam have to say about it? How
should Muslims regard drugs? To
know this, we must see what the
Quran and the Sunnah (prophetic
tradition) say regarding intoxicants
and narcotics.
Allaah Almighty states in the Noble
Quran what means: "O You who
believe! Indeed, intoxicants, gambling,
[sacrificing on] stone alters [to other
than Allaah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so
avoid it that you may be successful." [Quran: 5:90]
Allaah Almighty has described using intoxicants, amongst other things, as being
appalling, despicable and hateful acts of Satan, and He has commanded us to
abstain from them. Allaah, thereafter, states in the next verse, that which means:
"Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants
and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allaah and from prayer.
So will you not desist? [Quran: 5:91] This Aayah (verse) tells us how it is a
detestable act of Satan, because intoxicants, in addition to sowing the seeds of
enmity, prevent one from the remembrance of Allaah.
Bear in mind that when the term intoxicant is used, it also encompasses narcotics,
because they too, among other things, result in the loss of self-control. There are
also many narrations stated by the Noble Prophet with regards to intoxicants,
such as:
1) Jaabir reported that the Noble Prophet said: "Whosoever drinks wine,
whip him. If he repeats it for the fourth time, kill him." He (Jaabir) continued: "A
man was later brought to the Prophet who had drunk wine for the fourth time.
He beat him, but did not kill him." [At-Tirmithi & Abu Daawood]
The following Hadeeth (prophetic narration) clearly states that the Noble Prophet
prohibited intoxicants:
2) Ibn 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Every
intoxicant is Khamr (wine) and every intoxicant is Haraam (unlawful). Whosoever
drinks wine in this world and dies whilst having consumed it and not having
repented from it will not drink it in the next world [i.e. in Paradise]." [Muslim]
3) Jaabir narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Whatever
intoxicates in a greater quantity is also unlawful in a small quantity." [At-Tirmithi,
Abu Daawood & Ibn Maajah]
4) Abdullaah bin 'Amr reported from the Prophet who said: "One who is
disobedient to parents, gambles, is harsh after charity (i.e., he reminds others of
his charity to them) or is a habitual drunkard shall not enter Paradise." [Ad-
Daarimi]
5) Ibn 'Abbaas reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: "If a habitual
drunkard dies, he will meet Allaah like the one who worships idols." [Ahmad & Ibn
Maajah]
In other narrations, Prophet Muhammad described intoxicants as:
1. The key to all evils.
2. The head of all errors and lapses.
3. The most terrible of major sins.
4. The mother of all atrocities.
5. The mother of all evils.
Why are drugs and intoxicants so abhorrent, awful, foul and vile in the sight of
Islam? Let us look at what the scholars have said regarding the effects of drugs
from worldly as well as religious perspectives:
Imaam Ibn Hajar Al-Makki narrates from some scholars that there are one
hundred and twenty worldly and religious detriments that result from consuming
hashish (Cannabis).
Not ten, or twenty, but one hundred and twenty harms occur due to the
consumption of such drugs! Ibn Seenaa stated that large amounts of it dries
up semen (The fluid that carries sperm, thus rendering a consumer of narcotics
sexually impotent). Ibn Al-Beetaar stated: "A group of people used it (drugs)
and therefore became mentally deranged (insane)."
Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah said: "All the faults, blemishes, and other bad things
in Khamr (wine) are present in hashish, and more, because the majority of faults
in khamr affect religion, but hashish affects, to a great extent, both religion and
body."
Some might say that all drugs do not intoxicate, and that drugs like heroin and
hashish are only depressants which slacken and weaken the mind. The answer to
this lies is in the following statement:
Umm Salamah said: "The Prophet prohibited every intoxicant and Muftir
(every substance which slackens the mind)."
The unanimity of the Ummah (Muslim nation) on the prohibition of narcotics is
also narrated from many scholars. Imaam Az- Zarkashi stated: "The
consensus of the Ummah is narrated from several scholars on the prohibition of
hashish; those scholars include Qiraafi and Ibn Taymiyyah."
If that was not enough, Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah has further stated: "Whosoever
regards it lawful has become a Kaafir (disbeliever)."
The scholars of all four schools of Islamic jurisprudence unanimously agree that
consuming anything intoxicating is Haraam. Certain plants have also been
included in this, as Imaam Rafee’ clearly stated that: "The scholars have
included intoxicating plants, etc. within this prohibition."
So far, the prohibition of drugs has been proven by means of the Quran, Sunnah
and Ijmaa' (consensus of scholars). It can further be proved by Qiyaas (analogical
deduction) i.e. logical reasoning. When a person is intoxicated (or ‘stoned’ in
street language) he does not know what he is doing. He could easily kill someone
or fornicate, etc. In the same manner, to feed his habit, he will most probably have
to steal. These are, without a shadow of doubt, unlawful. There is a general rule
that whatever leads to something Haraam (unlawful) is in itself Haraam. Thus,
drugs have been proven as Haraam by all four sources of Islamic jurisprudence
(Quran, Sunnah, Ijmaa' and Qiyaas).
What is the legal punishment for consuming drugs?
Imaam Al-Maawardi stressed that by consuming plants, which cause over-
excitement (intoxication), the Hadd (legal punishment) will become necessary,
which, in this case, is eighty lashes.
Imaam Qiraafi states that all the scholars of his period agreed that its
consumption is Haraam.
However, there is a difference of opinion as to what punishment becomes
incumbent due to consuming drugs; either Hadd, because it intoxicates or Ta'zeer
(reprimand) because it corrupts the mind.
According to three prominent Imaams (Shaafi'i, Maalik and Ahmad), consuming
anything intoxicating, however small the amount, will bring the legal punishment
of eighty lashes to the person. However, according to the Hanafi school, if an
intoxicating amount has been taken, then, according to Imam Muhammad, Hadd
will be necessary. According to Imaam Abu Haneefah and Imaam Abu Yusuf, he
will be reprimanded severely, but the Hadd will not be imposed.
Ta'zeer is such a punishment that holds no specific amount and is for the
discretion of the Judge. We should note that according to some scholars, in
certain cases, Ta'zeer could prove to be more severe than the Hadd itself, such as
when the person persistently commits the crime.
Source: WWW.islamweb.com
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