In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Cracking the Drug Problem

What is a drug?
A drug is a substance which may have medicinal, intoxicating, performance enhancing or other effects when taken or put into a human body. Meaning, drugs are chemicals that change the way a person's body works. Some drug has a very strong bad odour.

Illegal drugs are put into three different classes in the United Kingdom - A, B, and C.
Class A drugs are considered to be the most dangerous and harmful and attract the most serious punishments and fines.
Class A drugs - These include heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and LSD.
Class B drugs - These include amphetamines, such as speed and cannabis.
Class C drugs - Drugs in this category include tranquillisers, valium and anabolic steroids.

Tobacco contains nicotine, which naturally occurs in the leaves of the tobacco plant. When you smoke tobacco it kills you in the long run and also causes cancer, so this is a harmful substance.

Some statements by drug addict.
“When you take ecstasy a party drug, it gives you high energy, sound becomes very loud and you will have hallucinations (colour enhances (bright), rope turns in to snake etc.) and negative feelings becomes positive feelings.” [Suroth]

“Cocaine symptoms, you chew your lips and fingers until they bleed.” [Suroth]

“When you don’t take heroine and alcohol, you feel cold. Your kidneys hurt, your legs hurt”. [an addict and dealer]

Some signs of drug addicts.
They will steal, lie, have high temper, less respect, argue a lot on petty things and have a very bad smell on their clothes and body.

Family and marriage breakdown – When this kind of problem happens, not just one person (an addict) life in danger but many in stake. Each time family decides to solve the problem, the issue becomes so intense with their own opinions that family starts to drift away (family trust/bond dissolves). Later stage, the family including wife and children’s, community and every one abandons the drug addict. The behaviour of the addict then becomes very lonely, aggressive and alienated as if he is the enemy of the state.

These are some of the effects that drugs have. There are more, read on…

Why and how do people get hooked to drugs and how it effects?
The problems of drugs affect all sectors of society.  Drug affects the unemployment to the high-flying city worker; from the layman to the judges and politicians.

Boredom plays a big role in life, stress, peer pressure and experimenting in stages (enhances their mood).

We need to understand why it is that in our societies, we are experiencing such problems with drugs/alcoholics and why they are not able to deal with them.

In western societies, people go too extreme lengths to satisfy every urge they feel and this behaviour is not restricted to drugs alone. Talk-show programmes and reality shows demonstrate the many such cases, for example, where people are so obese that they are unable to move, people drinking too much alcohol so they can forget their problems for short while or people whose addictions make them undertake extreme actions in order to satisfy their urge.

What we are seeing are the results of a mentality that exists within the minds of the people, of instant gratification! This can be summed up by the phrase where people are told to “enjoy the present day”. Therefore, people no longer worry about the ‘minor’ details, such as the future or the consequences of their actions. People seek the instant sensual gratification and pleasure, and they seek to have as much as they possibly can.

From this point of view, the amount of pleasure that a drug will provide by intoxicating the mind, making people see pleasing images and enjoying  the feeling of ‘ecstasy’, are therefore enough of a motivation to take it. The potential side effects of long-term damages to the body or danger to society does not even feature in the decision making process. The only thing that counts is the instant sensual gratification and pleasure.

This is the motivation that corrupts the people since life simply becomes a means of moving from one ‘high’ to another. This mentality makes people a slave to their desires; it traps the casual drug user and turns him into a junkie forcing him to take drug. The move from ‘soft’ drugs to ‘hard’ drugs and ‘hard’ drugs to the dangerously high dosages is due to the constant pursuit of the ‘next high’.

Role Models
The youths today look up to role models such as 50 Cent, Eminems, Dr. Dre and so on. The lifestyle of such personalities is dominated by drugs, guns and sex. This is not limited to music stars but also includes film stars, football players and other celebrities.

No youths want to be seen as a social geek, i.e. someone who is different from the social norms. Therefore, the youth are pressurised to take drugs and emulate such lifestyles, in order to fit a particular image. He or she has to be seen as ‘acceptable’ to others.

How do you escape?
People face a multitude of problems, example of debt, poverty, stress and family breakdowns. Many cannot see a way out of such problems; while others are simple too weak-minded to challenge their problems head on.

Therefore, drugs are seen as an easy and temporary release; a way out and an escape from reality of problems. However, as this feeling disappears people realise that none of their problems have gone away and so the need to escape remains. The person is forever caught in a vicious circle trying to find ways to escape. Some even committing suicide just to end their miserable life.

What is clear is that the goal of maximising pleasure creates a mentality that is incapable of viewing life correctly and dealing with its problems. It creates a weak mentality, where running away from problems and not dealing with them, is always the easiest option.

How do you get rid of these toxins accumulated by drug use from your body?
There are drug addictions rehab centres and detoxification (detox for short) is a treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol intended to remove the physiological effects of the addictive substances. Drug detox is performed in many different ways depending on where you decide to receive treatment. The cost varies from £1,495.00 – £3,000 plus and depends on number of days (detox 5 to 10 days).

Very important questions, once the substances been flushed out from the body:-

1. What steps do you take?
2. Do you stay in the same environment, with your local friends (drug addicts) and family?
3. Do you sacrifice/consider moving to a new location/environment and start a fresh life, where you are unknown to the public?
4. The mentality in your head the brain will be craving for drugs now and then so, will you have the ‘will power’ to overcome your ‘evil self (nafs)’ because it doesn’t matter 2,3 or even 6 months drug free period, it only takes one session of drug, then you are back where you have started from (back to square one).

Those are the questions you need to answer before making your decision/trip for treatment.

    
What is methadone and why do rehab centres prescribe this to drug addicts?
Methadone (a powerful synthetic analgesic drug) is an opiate prescribed by doctors as a substitute for heroin with recommended dosage and it is free. Methadone is used as a pain reliever and not every drug addict will be prescribed with it.

Drugs in the Muslim Community
Living in Britain, the Muslim community has become a victim to the problem of drugs. The sad truth is that the same things that motivate the people in the western societies have now become the basis for actions for many of the Muslims all around the world.

Islam’s View on the Drugs Problem
Muslims must know that we have a different view about life and a different viewpoint on drugs and other such problems that we experience in life. We have a Aqeedah (Belief) which is built on thinking and not on blind following.

For the Muslim, the existence of Allah (subhan wata'ala) is beyond doubt. Our goal in life is to worship Allah (subhan wata'ala), to behave according to His commands and prohibitions. Life for the Muslim is not simply about reacting to our urges, but to control them within the limits set by Allah.

Islam provides Muslims with a mentality that is both strong and true. Islam deals with mans every needs. So a Muslim satisfies his or her needs according to an organised system.
Islam does not suppress any of our urges or needs. Rather, Allah (subhan wata'ala) guides us to the right way of satisfying them. For example, the sexual desires are not suppressed, but guided through marriage and forbidden to satisfy through any other means, such as socialising, dating or other pre-marital activities. We should limit our enjoyment and pleasure to that which Allah (subhan wata'ala) has made lawful for us. This is what will lead to the correct organisation and real happiness for ourselves and society.

Within the Shariah of Allah (subhan wata'ala) intoxicants have been forbidden. This includes all types of alcoholic drinks and every type of drugs whether eaten, inhaled or injected. Allah (subhan wata'ala) says:

"O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination - of Satan's handiwork; eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper. Satan's plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: Will ye not then abstain"? [Qur’an, Sûrah Al Ma’idah 5:90-91]

So in Islam there is no difference between ‘Class A’ and ‘Class C’, nor between the ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ drugs. In the sight of Allah (subhan wata'ala) they are all Haram and unlawful.

The companions of the Prophet   gave up alcohol even though some were addicted to it. They broke their addiction as they realised that this life is temporary and their belief in Allah is definite and real. Allah’s (subhan wata'ala) rewards and punishments overcame their Nafs (evil self) desires. So a Muslim thinks about his Belief in order to strengthen his Iman. He constantly accounts himself by linking all his actions to the rewards and punishments of Allah.

Follow not the footsteps of Shaytan (Satan)
Iblis is the Jinn who disobeyed Allah’s command to prostrate to Adam (as), and was consequently expelled from Heaven. Allah (subhan wata'ala) had promised him eternal Hell, but he had asked Allah (subhan wata'ala) to give him time before going to Hell to win over Adam’s descendants as their followers. Allah (subhan wata'ala) had granted him time, and Iblis has worked towards the destruction of mankind ever since. Shaytan is the term used to refer to Iblis and other disbelieving Jinn.

Iblis has his throne in the sea, and he sends out his dispatchments of shaytan to aggravate people. The dearest of them to him is the one who causes the most fitna (tribulation).

One of his workers comes and tells him "I did not leave (my victim) until I brought about separation between him and his wife." Iblis draws him near and says to him, "Yes, You (are the best)." [Sahih Muslim]

Because of this evil nature of the shaytan, the term "shayatan" is also used for those disbelieving human beings that are active in corrupting and fighting righteousness. Allah (subhan wata'ala) has said:

Likewise did We make for every Messenger an enemy - evil ones among humans and Jinns, inspiring each other with flowery discourses by way of deception... [Qur’an, Sûrah Al An’am 6:112]

The Traps of Iblis (by Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah) - It is not possible to encompass one of Iblis evils, let alone all of them. Since Iblis evil is of six types, Iblis remains behind the son of Adam until he gets him to do one or more of these six evils. Read more… Click Here

 

Role Model in Islam
Best role model in Islam is to follow the foot-steps of our beloved Prophet   which is to follow the Sunnah.

In testing times, the Muslims remembers that for every hardship Allah (subhan wata'ala) provides an ease. In fact, through the Mercy of Allah (subhan wata'ala), when a Muslim faces any kind of difficulty Allah (subhan wata'ala) removes his sins from him. Allah (subhan wata'ala) says:

“So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief”. [Qur’an 94:5]

“By (the Token of) time (through the Ages), verily Man is in loss, except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy”. [Qur’an, Sûrah Al ‘Asr 103:1-3]

So there is no concept of escapism in Islam as the Muslim does not look for a way to run away from his responsibilities or problems. Rather, he deals with them ‘patiently’ and in the best manner possible knowing that Allah (subhan wata'ala) will assist him and be happy with him. This concept creates a powerful feelings that is more permanent than any drug. The Muslim has hope in Allah (subhan wata'ala) and he achieves satisfaction when the problem is overcome.

Living a life according to Islam is not boring since Islam allows pleasure and enjoyment. In fact, Islam encourages people to be happy and enjoy life by living according to Islam and within the limits of Islam. The companions of the Prophet (saw) used to enjoy each other’s company, eat together and help each other.

 

Fasting can be extremely beneficial for us mentally, spiritually and physically.
What happens to your body when you fasting? Watch the video and see how your body gets cleaned out…

 

Will Power
The more nearer you are with your creator Allah (subhan wata'ala), your ‘will power’ will increase which then you will be able to control your desires and overcome your ‘Nafs (evil self)’ In sha Allah.

QUESTIONS: Many people question the situation of a believer who commits many sins during his life? Will Allah forgive him or will he be punished? What is the extent of his punishment? Want to know the ANSWERS… Click Here

 

CONCLUSION
The drugs problem in society is as a result of a view point and values held by people within this society. It is a part of the western view on life where a person is a slave to their desires.

People can change but then again they don’t want to because of their desires (love for the world). They, either have to give up their fame, socializing, business, money, life style etc.

In Islam there is no difference between ‘Class A’ and ‘Class C’, nor between the ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ drugs. In the sight of Allah (subhan wata'ala) they are all Haram and unlawful.

As a Muslim, we should try and help our brothers and sisters and humanity. We should love and convey message to them and boost their morals and mental behaviour. We should not fear and abandon them and leave them trapped with Iblis (Satan). Rather, we should try and release them from the prison (trap) and save life not just a person, but many (families, wife and children’s).

Islam provides true satisfaction and tranquillity for the Muslim. It achieves this by making pleasure of Allah (subhan wata'ala) the ultimate goal in life.

 

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saw), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saw), one can be assured of being led astray.

O Allah, I seek protection in You from anxiety and grief, from powerlessness and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, and from the burden of loans and from being overcome by men and Jinn. Aameen.

All praises and thanks are due to Allah the Lord of the worlds. Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength. May Allah forgive our sins with his Infinite Mercy, Aameen.

 

Source
Drug addicts – Suroth and others…
Various sources…
The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an, 11th edition 1429 AH / 2008 C.E with Revised English Translation, Commentary and Index by ‘Abdullah Yusuf ‘Ali.

Last updated 4th Jumada al-Sani 1435 (Friday 4th April 2014)

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