Intoxication First Forbidden During Prayer

The Quran is the holy book and guide for all Muslims regardless of the school of thought they follow. The Quran is not compiled in a chronological order; for example, chapter 4 could have been revealed before chapter 2. Drugs and alcohol are referred to in the Quran as intoxicants. The term "intoxication" (the English translation of its Arabic counterpart "sukara") was first mentioned in the Quran in chapter 4, "An-Nissa" (Women). Verse 43 of this chapter states, "O you who believe, do not observe the Contact Prayers [Salat] while intoxicated, so that you know what you are saying." This verse only forbids intoxication when praying and does not forbid it in any other situation.

Intoxication Frowned Upon in General

The next revelation was in chapter 2, "Baqara" (The Cow). Here it says, "They ask you about intoxicants and gambling: say, 'In them there is a gross sin, and some benefits for the people. But their sinfulness far outweighs their benefit.'" With this verse, intoxication is now being shunned not just in prayer but in any situation.

Forbidding Intoxication Completely

Finally, in verses 90 and 91 of chapter 5, "al-Maidah" (The Feast), the Quran says, "O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them, that you may succeed. The devil wants to provoke animosity and hatred among you through intoxicants and gambling, and to distract you from remembering God, and from observing the Contact Prayers [Salat]. Will you then refrain?" This is the last revelation about intoxication, and based on this, Islamic scholars all agree that drugs and alcohol are forbidden.

The Traditions of Muhammad

The traditions of Muhammad, also called "A-Haadith," are records of what Muhammad said and did. These traditions clarify things that aren't mentioned or can't be known by reading the Quran alone. An example of this is Muslim prayer. The Quran commands prayer but does not describe the movements or the detailed rules of it. By watching and listening to their prophet, Muslims learned how to pray. These traditions are another factor in deciding what is permissible and what is forbidden in Islam. An example of two traditions speaking about intoxication: Aisha, the wife of Muhammad, heard him say, "All drinks that produce intoxication are Haram [forbidden] to drink." This is quoted from an Islamic book of traditions known as Al-Bukhari. "The prophet prohibited people from the usage of intoxicants and narcotics. Any substance which befogs and intoxicates the mind, the prophet has stopped us from taking it." This is from a book of traditions called AsSunaan Abu Dawood.

Conclusion

Based on the above information, the Muslim view on intoxication through drugs and alcohol is that it clouds the judgment, creates animosity, and hinders one from carrying out obligatory worship and remembering God. It is deemed by Muslims, without question, as forbidden.

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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 selfcontrol. There are also many narrations stated by the Noble Prophet regards to intoxicants, such as: with

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. inParadise]." [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." [AdDaarimi] 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 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)." described intoxicants as:

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 overexcitement (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.