Thankyou for your reply charisma! I appreciate you taking time out of your day to answer. I have had time to formulate my own opinion on the subject and have put my thoughts down in writing. Here they are:
I have done a lot of research on religion (Islam mainly, but the ruling on drugs is similar in most other religions too), the Quran and psychedelic substances. From my research, I have been able to form a clearer picture of these substances and I’d like to argue my case for these psychedelic substances. I would, however, like to point out that this is just my opinion, formed from my life experiences, understandings and the research I have conducted. I also do not in any shape or form support or oppose the use of these substances. If anyone chooses to use them, for whatever purpose, I believe they should educate themselves well enough beforehand. Furthermore, I am still not sure about their true place in Islam, and am still trying to find concrete answers. Thus, if you do choose to use these substances, do them at your own risk.
Hallucinogens (DMT, LSD-25 and Psilocybin Mushrooms) are all non-addictive, non-toxic. Since they have been made illegal in today’s societies, research into them has been limited and as a result we do not fully understand them. Recently, with the adoption of a more open minded approach, both scientific and medical research has proven that they are in fact even safer and less addictive than coffee (caffeine). One simply cannot "trip" on them every day like heroin, cocaine and MDMA as they are not party drugs or substances. Furthermore, I can also vouch for this. One cannot abuse these substances even if they wanted to. In fact these substances have been the proven to help addicts (alcoholics, smokers and other harmful drug addicts) quit their addictions. Just Googling the “John Hopkins School of Medicine and Magic Mushrooms” will present you with concrete proof of this. Furthermore, there have been 0 documented deaths in human history attributed to the direct consumption of the above substances (in their unadulterated form). Most people, stereotype psychedelics with other hard drugs such as cocaine, heroine, meth, etc. One cannot be more ignorant. One would have to eat close to their bodyweight of these substances to reach the LD-50 of the substances. The LD-50 of a substance is the amount of substance if consumed will kill 50% of the consumers. If you consume “laced” LSD or DMT, then there is a high risk factor of overdosing, but in their pure form these substances simply cannot kill you.
I compared these psychedelic substances to tobacco and alcohol, which are freely available drugs which cause 6 million and 2.5 million deaths per year (according to WHO), globally and yet they are freely available and people consume them, including Muslims. With respect to tobacco, I often hear people saying it falls under a grey under Islam which is called “Makruh”. This does not make any logical sense. Tobacco kills 6 million people and is “Makruh” but psychedelics cause 0 deaths but are haram? This alone makes me question why such double standards exist. Any substance if abused will be harmful to the body - including food as well as halal consumables like salt (sodium), coffee/energy drinks (caffeine), soft drinks (sugar), etc.
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) has said: That which intoxicates in large quantities is prohibited in small quantities. (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and others, with a sound chain of narrators). According to this, even regular foods such as coffee should be haram because if you do some research you will find that even coffee is a hallucinogen, with the capability to alter ones mental state just like drugs and alcohol, once its consumed in large enough quantities. Caffeine also has the capability to produce sensory responses without any physical stimuli just like hallucinogens. It has even been shown to produce hallucinations of dead people or animals. There is a long list of edibles which are not haram, yet alter ones mental state and cause hallucinations. For example: chocolate (in large enough quantities), hot chilies, nutmeg, etc. If we are to follow the Prophet’s (PBUH) hadith by the dot, without any subjective interpretation, then all of these substances should have been made haram too.
I am not arguing that the above substance should be made haram. But instead, I am trying to argue that double standards exist in the interpretation of Islam and one should be given the ability, after enough education and evidence to make the choice for themselves, rather than blindly following something which has been preached by people. What makes one interpretation of Islam better than my interpretation? Most people I ask about the topic get uncomfortable discussing it, and those that do respond first come to the argument that these psychedelics will end up killing me by overdose.
I would also like to argue that under the influence of psychedelics, I have had some of the most meaningful experiences EVER. I have actually felt the existence of the all-knowing presence, experiencing satori/religious type knowledge/enlightenment, universal love, etc. Even the so called “bad trips” with these substances, have taught me some of the greatest lessons most about myself, life and in general have helped expand my mind. But I am firstly questioning what even qualifies as a drug or intoxicant in Islam or in general. According to Islam, anything that "intoxicates" is haram. In the Quran, Khamr (alcohol) is explicitly mentioned, which is understandable because I strongly believe that alcohol is evil. However, just because psychedelics cause a mental state similar to that of alcohol, is it right to brand them under the same category of intoxicants? Furthermore, these substances did not exist in the time Islam was revealed so we have to use. Thus the interpretation of the Quran in today's context which can be subjective.
According to Islam, drugs will harm my life in this world and in the hereafter. But in fact these substances have bought me closer to Islam never before. I used to be an occasional consumer of alcohol, however, after consuming these psychedelics, I have developed a hatred for alcohol and my belief in Allah has been solidified to a whole new level. You could potentially argue that this is all a hallucination but what just for a second consider the other side of the argument. What if these substances are in fact not drugs but some form of spiritual tools or means to reach higher levels of consciousness and connect with God. There is also concrete proof of these magic mushrooms and DMT being used in religious ceremonies for centuries – by the Amazonians, the Mayans, the Aztecs, the Egyptians, etc.
In conclusion, what message do I want to get across from this? I believe the human mind is a remarkable asset as it is, however its power is increased multifold once a person keeps it open – to new ideas, change and the ability to consider and evaluate other sides of the argument. I strongly believe one should have an open mind – even with Islam and religion in general – not just in relation to psychedelic substances but everything. I don’t believe in following a faith blindly, just because it is fed to us from a young age. I believe God has made the human mind curious in nature for a reason – to seek knowledge and truth or “true knowledge”. Furthermore, I believe that the human instinct is one of the greatest gifts of God and one should use logic, reasoning and understanding of the world to interpret faith/religion in a manner which feels right to us/our instincts as human being.
According to the Quran, Allah stresses the importance for people to think, to reason and to use their mind and intellect. The word “mind” or “reasoning” is mentioned 49 times in the Quran (in Arabic - Taqiloon 24 times, Yaqiloon 22 times, and Aqal, Naqil and Yaqil one time each). Also Allah refers to people of understanding 16 times in the Quran (in Arabic Ulu Al-AlBab or Uli Al-Albab). The Quran also, in tens of verses, strongly calls and emphasizes the need to contemplate and to give thought (in Arabic Fikr or Tafakkor).
Last but not least, Allah says in the Quran: “And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah. They follow not except assumption, and they are not but falsifying (out of ignorance, conjecture and assumption.” (Quran, 6:116).
eace:
that is also a toxin, in case you didn't know.
