Consumption of intoxicants & drugs: an Islamic perspective

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 (radiyallahu anhu) reported that the Noble Prophet swallallahu alaihi wasallam 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 radiyallahu anhu reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sw)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 radiyallahu anhu 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 radiyallahu anhu 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 radiyallahu anhu 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]