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Islam and Addiction
By Judith K. Muhammad
Islam Online, Michigan
"The central philosophy of Western culture is that all ills or undesirable states can be 'fixed.' When other measures fail to fix a situation, people often quickly turn to substances that can alter and distort the mind's image, falsely convincing one that the problem is resolved."1
Drug and alcohol addiction has reached epidemic proportions. The drug problem is so significant that it is addressed by politicians in almost every major political campaign in every major city in the United States and by those running for national political office. It is clear that most of the citizens of this country are significantly concerned about the existing and growing alcohol and drug problem.
Substance abuse treatment professionals have come to learn that the most effective strategy is prevention but, to date, there have been few prevention techniques that have proven to be effective. Therefore, intervention and treatment must address this situation.
There have been, throughout the past four decades, a myriad of treatment programs developed and implemented - most of which have proven minimally successful. Treatments range from the most intense (in-patient and residential) to least intense (out-patient and aftercare). Within these programs exist a variety of treatment methods. However, none has proven more successful to date than the programs of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. For the majority of the addicted population, this may be the answer to the problem, but it presents problems for the Muslim addict.
People are attracted to Islam for a variety of reasons. As they take Shahada (repeating the words, "I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah") and enter into the Ummah (community) of Islam, they bring with them the problems of the world in which they lived. They bring the baggage of their past and of their history. They bring with them a myriad of problematic behaviors, including alcohol and drug addictions. They expect Islam to cure their addictions and, if Islam is lived completely and strictly according to the Laws and Traditions set down by Allah through the Qur'an and Hadith, it will.
Islam provides clear direction for every aspect of live and for every aspect of the treatment of addiction.
The literature of Islam is specific and precise. The word for an intoxicant used in the Qur'an is Khamr, which is derived from Khamara, meaning the covered or veiled thing. Thus, it will mean any fermented juice, or any other substance that may make one intoxicated after drinking/using.
The use of alcohol and other drugs is considered a "major sin." Muslims are required to stay away from khamr as it is considered the mother of all evils. "They ask thee (Oh Prophet) concerning wine and gambling. Say, in them are a great sin and some profit for men. But the sin is greater than the profit."2
Ibn Umar (raa) reported that Allah's Messenger (pbuh) as saying: "Every intoxicant is Khamr and every (type of) Khamr is prohibited. The one who drinks wine in this world and is addicted to it dies without repentance and will not drink it in the Hereafter."3
Jabir (raa) reported Allah's Messenger (pbuh) saying: "Allah has vowed that, to the one who drank intoxicating drinks, He will give him the sweat of the inhabitants of the Fire to drink."4
The justification of the use of intoxicants as a Major Sin is in these and other hadith. It is clear that obedience to Allah and His Messenger is not only expected, it is required if one wishes to enjoy life in Jannat (heaven) in the hereafter. There is a tradition that says that one of the three persons Allah will not permit to enter Jannat is the person who is addicted to Khamr.5
The Qur'anic legislation concerning the total abstinence of using intoxicants gives Islam a distinct contradiction from most of the world's religions. The Qur'anic prohibitions give Muslims a general stamp of sobriety unknown to the followers of most other religions. In Judaism, wine forms an integral part of the religious festivities and it is considered to be a sacred drink. In Christianity, only its abuse is condemned for most religions and was never absent from the Church or from its clergy.
The literature noted thus far makes it clear that the use of intoxicants is forbidden in Islam. It is forbidden because it is considered to 'veil' the use of the mind and, thus, serves as the 'mother of all evils', initiating or permitting the human to become involved in other behaviors that are also forbidden in Islam.
The Islamic concept is close to the prevailing thought regarding the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol in the non-Muslim Population. Joseph Califano, in his article titled, "It's Drugs Alcohol and Tobacco, Stupid?" discusses the costs to American society by the use of intoxicants. This description clearly indicates that he also believes that the use of intoxicants precipitates 'evil' in our society.
Islam, however, goes one step further than Mr. Califano and the United States. Islam prohibits the use of intoxicants and makes it unlawful to sell grapes to someone who will make wine from them (or any substance used to make intoxicants). If there is any doubt, the transaction is forbidden.
Also forbidden of intoxicants are selling, transporting, buying, giving or making of intoxicants. This, therefore, includes interaction of Muslims with those who are not Muslim. Muslims, for example, are not permitted to sell alcohol to non-Muslims because it involves selling, transporting and buying of intoxicants.6
Treatment of addictions is considered medical treatment. As such, Muslims are required to seek such treatment and the method of treatment is clearly prescribed. "There is a cure for every disease. Whatever illness is treated with its right remedy, it will, by Allah's permission, be cured."7
Treatment of addictions is conducted according to the laws and traditions of Islam.
The treatment specialist/therapist does not necessarily have to be Muslim to provide this treatment, but an understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of treatment is invaluable - as in the treatment of any "minority."
Islam does not "shame" its believers when they come for treatment. It is our understanding that Allah forgives and that we, as humans, have the responsibility to support and assist in recovery whenever possible. It is also the belief of Islam that full adherence to the religious principals of Islam with the support of the Muslim community will provide not only a drug free lifestyle but also recovery.
ENDNOTES:
1. Alexander, 1993
2. Qur'an, 2:219
3. Muslim, 875
4. Muslim, 1993
5. Adh-Dhahabi, 1347
6. Naquib Aal-Misri, 1994
7. Muslim, 875
Judith K. Muhammad, MA, LLP PhD Candidate. She is the Vice President of Islamic Health & Human Services in Detroit - this agency provides a full range of social services primarily for Muslims, and training in Islamic health care for non-Muslim health care providers. Sr. Judith is also a contributing writer to Islam-Online and has presented at many workshops and conferences around the country on topics such as Islamic Health Care, Islamic Marriage Issues, Juvenile Justice and Substance Abuse and its Treatment
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