What Is the Muslim View on Drugs and Alcohol?
In Islam there are several different schools of thought, and each of them have their rulings based on their interpretations of the Quran and the traditions of their prophet, Muhammad. Although they differ on some issues, it is agreed by all the schools that the use of drugs and alcohol is forbidden in Islam. This decision is based on the Quran, traditions of Muhammad, and Islamic logic.
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History of Intoxication in the Arab World
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One should understand that when Muhammad first brought Islam to his people, the Arabs, they were very fond of alcohol. They drank it, they made it, and they sold it. They made wine from dates and grapes, and it was a very lucrative business for the people. Slowly, through Quranic revelations, Muhammad began to teach the people to refrain from intoxication and eventually forbid it completely.
Defining Intoxication in Islam
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The Quran and many Islamic traditions refer to the state of intoxication as being forbidden. In these texts, the example of this state is often said to be the result of drinking wine. It is agreed among all Islamic scholars that intoxication is any substance that clouds the intellect and hinders one from making clear judgments. Based on this definition, intoxication refers to both drugs and alcohol.
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Intoxication First Forbidden During Prayer
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The Quran is the holy book and guide for all Muslims regardless of the school of thought they follow. The Quran is not compiled in a chronological order; for example, chapter 4 could have been revealed before chapter 2. Drugs and alcohol are referred to in the Quran as intoxicants. The term "intoxication" (the English translation of its Arabic counterpart "sukara") was first mentioned in the Quran in chapter 4, "An-Nissa" (Women). Verse 43 of this chapter states, "O you who believe, do not observe the Contact Prayers [Salat] while intoxicated, so that you know what you are saying." This verse only forbids intoxication when praying and does not forbid it in any other situation.
Intoxication Frowned Upon in General
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The next revelation was in chapter 2, "Baqara" (The Cow). Here it says, "They ask you about intoxicants and gambling: say, 'In them there is a gross sin, and some benefits for the people. But their sinfulness far outweighs their benefit.'" With this verse, intoxication is now being shunned not just in prayer but in any situation.
Forbidding Intoxication Completely
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Finally, in verses 90 and 91 of chapter 5, "al-Maidah" (The Feast), the Quran says, "O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them, that you may succeed. The devil wants to provoke animosity and hatred among you through intoxicants and gambling, and to distract you from remembering God, and from observing the Contact Prayers [Salat]. Will you then refrain?" This is the last revelation about intoxication, and based on this, Islamic scholars all agree that drugs and alcohol are forbidden.
The Traditions of Muhammad
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The traditions of Muhammad, also called "A-Haadith," are records of what Muhammad said and did. These traditions clarify things that aren't mentioned or can't be known by reading the Quran alone. An example of this is Muslim prayer. The Quran commands prayer but does not describe the movements or the detailed rules of it. By watching and listening to their prophet, Muslims learned how to pray. These traditions are another factor in deciding what is permissible and what is forbidden in Islam.
An example of two traditions speaking about intoxication:
Aisha, the wife of Muhammad, heard him say, "All drinks that produce intoxication are Haram [forbidden] to drink." This is quoted from an Islamic book of traditions known as Al-Bukhari.
"The prophet prohibited people from the usage of intoxicants and narcotics. Any substance which befogs and intoxicates the mind, the prophet has stopped us from taking it." This is from a book of traditions called As-Sunaan Abu Dawood.
Conclusion
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Based on the above information, the Muslim view on intoxication through drugs and alcohol is that it clouds the judgment, creates animosity, and hinders one from carrying out obligatory worship and remembering God. It is deemed by Muslims, without question, as forbidden.
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References
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