Fruitful Living
Islamic Position on Illicit Drugs (Part 1)
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise belongs to Allah, the Creator of mankind and Sustainer of the universe. We send blessings and salutations upon the noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), who was sent as a mercy to all creation, and upon his family, companions, and those who follow his path until the Day of Judgment.
Introduction
Illicit drugs have become a dangerous epidemic threatening our families, institutions, and future generations. Their impact is not only physical or psychological but also spiritual, tearing the fabric of morality, faith, and social cohesion.
Islam, a comprehensive way of life, provides guidance not only for acts of worship but also for health, personal conduct, and societal wellbeing. Addressing the menace of illicit drugs from an Islamic perspective gives us a moral framework and a roadmap for prevention, treatment, and societal healing.
The debate about illicit drugs use has gained significant attention in the public domain, especially following recent events at Keta Senior High School in Ghana. Reports indicate that students engaged in the destruction of school property, an action widely attributed to the influence of illicit drugs. This incident underscores the urgent need to address drug abuse among the youth.
Definition of Illicit Drugs from Literature
Illicit drugs are defined as substances that are either strictly prohibited by law or misused outside of their intended medical purpose. Ray, O. (1978) define illicit drugs as “substances that affect the central nervous system and alter brain functions, causing temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness, and behavior” (p. 5).
Examples include heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, tramadol (when abused), and marijuana (in jurisdictions where it remains illegal).
Definition of Illicit Drugs in Islamic Perspective
Is anything that clouds the mind (muskir), causes addiction, or leads to destructive behaviour is forbidden (haram). The Qur’an strictly prohibits intoxicants in multiple verses:
“O you who believe! Intoxicants, gambling, sacrificing to stones, and divination by arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Avoid them so that you may be successful.” (Qur’an 5:90)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) further said:“Every intoxicant is khamr, and every khamr is haram.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2003)And also,“Whatever intoxicates in large quantities, a small quantity of it is also forbidden.” (Sunan AbuDawood, Hadith 3681).
Scholars like Ibn Qayyim and Imam Nawawi emphasised that the objective of Shari’ah is to preserve the intellect (hifz al-‘aql), and that any substance which threatens this must be prohibited.
Modern narcotics fall under the category of khamr not in form, but in effect.
By Imam Saeed Abdulai