Connect with us

Fruitful Living

 Steps taken by government to combat illicit drugs (Final part)

 The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating drug abuse and illicit trafficking for a safer envi­ronment which would

go a long way to make Ghana a drug-free country. 3News.com (2025)

Solutions to Illicit Drugs from the Islamic perspective

are comprehensive and emphasise of both prevention and treatment:

Advertisement

Tarbiyah (Islamic nurturing): In­stilling strong Islamic values from childhood through Qur’anic education, regular prayer, and association with righteous companions.

Community preaching (Da’wah): Imams must consistently raise aware­ness during khutbahs and Islamic pro­grams about the dangers of drugs and the beauty of a sober, productive life.

Faith-based rehabilitation: Mosques and Islamic centers can partner with medical institutions to offer Qur’an therapy, spiritual counseling, and structured recovery programs.

Islamic youth clubs: Providing youth with halal entertainment, mentorship, and purposeful engagement can steer them away from harmful peer groups.

Advertisement

Zakat and Sadaqah: Channelling funds to support families of victims and establishing centres for rehabili­tation.

Role of Parents, Society, Muslim Chiefs and Imams:

Parents must be vigilant and provide emotional support. A loving, nurturing home reduces a child’s vulnerability to drugs.

Society should de-stigmatize ad­diction. Drug users should be seen as patients needing healing, not crimi­nals deserving rejection.

Advertisement

Muslim Chiefs must lead community campaigns, setting moral examples and supporting policy enforcement.

Imams must be more than religious leaders—they must become counsel­lors, educators, and advocates. Their leadership can shift public perception and guide collective action.

Conclusion

Illicit drugs pose one of the most dangerous threats to our society, undermining our religious values, harming our youth, and destroying our future. The Islamic position is clear and

Advertisement

Unequivocal: such substances are forbidden due to their destruc­tive consequences on all aspects of life. Islam does not merely condemn the act but calls for a holistic response—spiritual, social, and structural.

As a society, particularly as Muslims, we must rise to confront this crisis with faith, compassion, and com­mitment. We must not only preach against drugs but actively work to rehabilitate victims, educate the next generation, and partner with public institutions to create a society of wellness and righteousness.

Recommendations

1. Introduce Islamic drug awareness education in madrasas and public schools, using Quran and Hadith-based materials to instill moral responsibil­ity.

Advertisement

2. Create partnerships between the Ghana Narcotics Control Commission, Ghana Health Service, and Muslim organisations to develop culturally sensitive rehabilitation centres.

3. Train Imams and teachers in basic mental health and drug abuse coun­selling to serve as front-line respond­ers in communities.

4. Utilise Friday sermons (khutbahs) nationwide to address the dangers of drug abuse periodically and provide practical steps for prevention.

5. Encourage community surveil­lance, where parents, chiefs, and youth groups report dealers and suspi­cious activities to the authorities.

Advertisement

6. Establish mentorship programmes in every Muslim community where successful, drug-free role models mentor youth.

7. Form interfaith coalitions, work­ing across religious lines to tackle the drug menace as a national threat rather than a religious issue.

8. Provide job skills training for rehabilitated victims, helping them reintegrate into society and live digni­fied, self-sufficient lives.

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Fruitful Living

 Has man lost the essence of his creation? A reflective call to rediscover our divine purpose (Part 1)

Introduction: Rediscoveringour purpose

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and ask for His mercy. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his family, his companions, and all those who follow his guidance until the Day of Judgment.

In today’s increasingly materialistic and turbulent world, a profound ques­tion echoes louder than ever: Has man lost the essence of his creation? It is a question that compels every thinking soul to pause and reflect deeply.

In the midst of scientific break­throughs, booming technology, and eco­nomic pursuits, we must ask ourselves: are we fulfilling the sacred purpose for which we were created? Are we still living as stewards of Allah on earth, or have we strayed from our divine assign­ment?

Advertisement

This article explores the Qur’anic foundation of man’s creation, the noble position he holds, and the deviation from this divine path in modern times. It further calls for a return to spiritual consciousness and outlines practical steps to help realign mankind with his intended purpose.

Man: Allah’s Vicegerent on Earth

The Qur’an states: “And when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a vicegerent (Khalifah)…’” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:30).

This declaration marks the beginning of man’s honorable journey on earth. Mankind was created from clay, as re­corded in Surah Al-Hijr:

Advertisement

“And We did certainly create man out of clay from an altered black mud. And the jinn We created before from scorching fire. And [mention] when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud.’ So when I have propor­tioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul, then fall down to him in prostration.” (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:26-29).

This prostration of angels was not to worship Adam, but to recognize the honor Allah had bestowed upon man. It signified a spiritual hierarchy in which man, though of earthly origin, carries a divine trust and responsibility.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized this dignity. He taught that every human is born upon the natural disposition (fitrah) and bears the potential to fulfill their purpose as a servant of Allah and custodian of His creation.

The Purpose of Creation

Advertisement

Allah did not create man in vain. The Qur’an states clearly: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:56).

“And they were not commanded ex­cept to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.” (Surah Al-Bayyinah, 98:5).

Another profound verse underscores that life was not created aimlessly:

“And We did not create the heaven and the earth and that between them aimlessly. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve, so woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire.”(Surah Sad, 38:27).

Advertisement

These verses convey that creation is intentional, meaningful, and divinely ordained. The essence of man’s cre­ation lies in his recognition of Allah, his conscious submission to the Divine Will, and his dedication to a life of worship, service, and ethical living.

Worship in Islam is not confined to rituals alone but extends to every as­pect of human existence—how we earn, govern, lead our families, engage with society, and preserve the environment. Every righteous deed done with sincer­ity for Allah’s pleasure becomes an act of worship.

Imam Al-Ghazali explains in Ihya Ulum al-Din that true worship stems from knowledge of Allah and a heart that submits lovingly to His will. Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah likewise stresses that man’s highest honor lies in fulfilling the purpose of servitude (`ubudiyyah) to Allah, which brings inner peace and divine elevation.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) demonstrated this perfect balance of worship and engagement in worldly affairs. He was a husband, a leader, a statesman, and a worshipper who said: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are the most consistent, even if they are few.”

Advertisement

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6464)

Living in harmony with this divine purpose not only brings personal fulfillment but also collective peace. Conversely, neglecting it results in moral confusion, injustice, and spiritual emptiness.

Therefore, recognizing and living by our purpose is not a luxury but a neces­sity. It is the key to real success in this life and salvation in the Hereafter.

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Fruitful Living

 Trusting God with our anxieties (final)

 Jesus not only instructs us not to worry — He explains why worry­ing is counterproductive to our well-being:

❖ Worry is blind. It re­fuses to learn from nature, history, or personal experience. Birds and flow­ers testify to God’s faithfulness. The history of Israel is filled with God’s miraculous provision — from Egypt to the Red Sea to the Promised Land (Deut. 8:14–15).

❖ Worry refuses to learn the lesson of life. Time and again, God has helped us bear the unbear­able and overcome the insurmount­able. He strengthens us even when we reach the breaking point — and keeps us from breaking.

❖ Worry is irreligious. It stems not from our external cir­cumstances, but from a heart full of fear and distrust. Yet Scripture de­clares:“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” — Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

Advertisement

The antidote to worry: El shaddai

Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righ­teous run to it and are safe.” One of the most comforting names of God is El Shaddai, which first appears in Genesis 17:1 and appears 218 times in the Bible.

❖ El means “Strong One.”

❖ Shaddai means “The Breasted One.”

Advertisement

Together, El Shaddai paints a picture of God as:

❖ Our Strong Nourisher

❖ Strength Giver

❖ Satisfier

Advertisement

❖ All-Bountiful Supplier

❖ Fulfiller of Needs

❖ The Life-Giver who brings dead things back to life

(e.g., Abraham and Sarah conceiving Isaac at 150 and 90 years respectively)

Advertisement

In knowing who God is, we find the courage to release our anxieties. If He is truly El Shaddai — strong, sufficient, and sustaining — then we are safe in His hands.

Practical steps to peace

In Philippians 4:6–7, we are given a divine prescription for peace:

1. Stop being anxious and fretful. Recognize the emo­tional and spiritual toll of worry.

Advertisement

2. Go to God in prayer about everything. Nothing is too big or small.

3. Pray for yourself. God is your Father — your relation­ship with Him is personal.

4. Thank Him as you pray. Gratitude builds faith and reminds us of His past faithfulness.

When we do this, God’s peace — not the world’s peace — will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Advertisement

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

CONCLUSION

We are living in uncertain times. Pressures abound and anxieties easily multiply. But as children of God, we are called to walk a different path — one of quiet confidence, steady trust, and daily surrender.

God’s Word is clear: worry doesn’t help — but trust in God brings peace. Let us shift our focus from fear to faith, from anxiety to adoration. Let us anchor our hearts in the unchang­ing character of El Shaddai — our Al­mighty God — and rest in His perfect care.

Advertisement

By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending