Alcoholism and drug abuse constitute one of the most serious problems encountered by the contemporary society. It has assumed such a gigantic proportion in recent times, that it has become a potential challenge to the very basis of the moral order and ethical well being of the society.

Drug abuse is commonly defined as the harmful, non-medical use of a mind-altering drug. The continuous misuse of one or more of such drugs which are called psychoactive drugs can lead to poor health and also personality and behavioural problems.

Why people abuse drugs? is the basic question to which we must initially find a satisfactory and convincing answer. Then only we will be able to discover the social and other factors which have created an environment that leads to the abuse of drugs. Most of the social problems including drug abuse are the external manifestation of the inner spiritual crisis man faces in today’s society dominated by consumerism and incessant greed for the increase of material possessions and also rat-race for social ranks and positions. Another important characteristic of the contemporary society is the life characterized by tedium of routine existence and boredom. The researches conducted about drug abuse confirm the fact that most of those who abuse drugs seek a pleasurable change. Some people who feel a sense of aimlessness in life and feeling of emptiness seek escapism through drugs. Some resort to drugs to escape depression or other personal problems. The breakdown of the family is one of the major causes that lead to abuse of drugs. When one is addicted to drugs he engages in all types of crimes to obtain his need for drug. Hence, alcoholism and drug abuse are social problems which should engage the attention of all those who are concerned about the moral and spiritual well being of humanity.

All religions share basic ethical and moral values and seek to create a society on the basis of these values and religions can make a great contribution to meet this challenge of drug abuse.

I propose to present the viewpoint of Islam in relation to the problem of alcoholism and drug addiction and the ways it has prescribed to eradicate this menace. The social philosophy of Islam rests on justice and social equality. It takes account of the individual as well as the collective needs of the society which manifests itself through Shariah the Islamic Law which regulates the conduct of a Muslim in religious and secular matters.

Islam considers the individual as the basis of the society. It is the individuals who form the family which is the society in miniature. Therefore, Islam considers the moral transformation of the society should commence from the reform of the individual. According to the Islamic view every human individual is born in a state purity with an uncorrupted and unsullied mind and soul with all the inherent potentialities for perfection. In order to preserve this ethical purity man is endowed with reason and divine guidance. Thus, the distinguishing feature of a human being is his intellect and reason. In other words, we need reason to be human and to be self- conscious. Self-consciousness as we know is the basic trait of human personality.

Islamic prohibition of alcohol is mainly based on the fact that it obscures man’s intellect and power of reasoning. This is very clearly implied by the Arabic term ‘Khamr’ used in the Holy Quran and the tradition of the Prophet to denote the intoxicating drinks. According to lexicographers, the word ‘Khamr’ denotes substance, the use of which obscures the intellect. The word Khamr is derived from the root word ‘Khamara’ which literally means ‘to cover’. Thus Khamr is that which covers or obscures the clarity of thinking of an individual making him act without a sound process of thinking. In the Quran, the word ‘Khamr’ has been used for alcoholic drinks. Originally it was understood to mean the fermented juice of grapes. Then this word was applied by analogy to all fermented liquors and by another analogy to any intoxicating liquor or drug.

During Prophet’s time, alcoholic beverages were made out of grapes, dates wheat and barley. Today, we may make it from any source. Islam is not concerned about the source but its effect. Viewing from this angle, Khamr refers not only to wine or alcohol but also to any intoxicant which clouds or veils the intellect such as LSD, marijuana or hashish.

The greatest possession of man is a strong consciousness and an awakened mind. It is the deadening of the consciousness and a sense of hallucination that lead a man to lose his mental balance and commit all types of sins, evil deeds and crimes, that brings ruination to his own self and society. It is because of the serious effect the intoxicants have on this aspect that consumption of alcohol is considered as a major crime in Islam. Prophet of Islam reported to have named intoxicating drinks as ‘Ummul Khabais’ – mother of abomination and filth.

In Islamic vision, man is both physical and a spiritual being, and both the physical well-being and spiritual well-being are inter-related. Islam prohibits all types of foods and drinks that are injurious to the physical well-being of man, and which tends to weaken his physique and body. “A believer who is strong is more pleasing to God the one who is week“, said the Prophet of Islam. In the same manner, it invites man to abstain from all abominable deeds that would corrupt his moral and spiritual purity.

“By the Soul, and proportion, and the order given to it, and its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right. Truly he succeeds who purifies it and he fails who corrupts it.” (Al-Quran -91 : 7 – 10)

  At the time of the emergence of Islam, Arabian society was in a state of moral decadence and spiritual degeneration. Vices like gambling, drinking and murder were very widely prevalent in that society, and of all these immoral acts, consumption of intoxicating drinks occupied an important place, so much so, in the pre-Islamic Arabic literature, a form of poetry known as al-Khamriyyat (wine songs) occupied a significant place. Drinking of wine formed an integral part of social life of the Arabs. Thus, this was an evil habit that was firmly rooted in that society. It is quite worthy to observe how Islam brought about a social transformation in that society by prohibiting the consumption of the intoxicating drinks in three main stages. The first instruction about alcohol and intoxicating drinks came as follows;

“(Oh Prophet) They ask you concerning wine and gambling, say, ‘In them is great sin and some benefit for men. But the harm of the sin is greater than the benefit.” (Al-Quran – 2 :219)

This verse is of educative nature which speaks about the evil effects of drinking and seeks to create in the minds of the people, a certain consciousness about the evils inherent in alcohol, while granting the fact that some benefits may be also in it. This verse which speaks about mere disapproval of these things was the first stage in the process of total prohibition. This verse merely stated that drinking is an evil deed and God does not approve it.

After the revelation of this verse, some Muslims abstained from intoxicants, but the majority of them however continued with this practice and also offered prayer in a state of intoxication. This was the stage in which the second instruction in respect of alcohol was revealed as follows;

“O Believers! Do not offer prayers when you are intoxicated for prayer should be offered only when you know what you are saying.”    (Al-Quran – 4 :43)

Sometime after this revelation, came the commandment in respect of total prohibition;

“O Believers, intoxicants and gambling, dedication of stones, and divination by arrows are all abominable deeds of Satan. Therefore, refrain from these, so that you may attain true success. Indeed Satan intends to sow enmity and hatred among you by means of wine and gambling and prevent you from the remembrance of Allah and from Prayer. Will you not therefore abstain from these things. (Al-Quran – 5 :90)

The gradual process that was adopted by Islam in effecting total prohibition merits a serious study in the context of the present situation. The legal prohibition was preceded by two main phases. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) took much pain to instill into the minds of the people, the faith in God, which created in them a sense of responsibility and accountability. That is to say, that they are answerable to God for all their actions, and secondly, people over the years, were instructed about the evils of intoxicants and how it effects the presence of mind at the time of prayer and also how it creates a state of moral chaos both in the individual and society. This is very strongly emphasized in the verse quoted above wherein it says ‘Indeed Satan intends to sow enmity and hatred among you’.

Thus according to this Quranic principle, the most important aspect that should engage the attention of all those who are concerned about the prevention and treatment of drug-related problems is the creation of a strong sense of moral consciousness in the minds of the people, and also educating them on the dangers of drugs.

Another important aspect to be observed in respect of Islamic teachings and practices regarding intoxicants is the fact the Prophet of Islam by various means closed all avenues that would lead to the consumption of intoxicants. He took every important step to clean the social environment from the evil influence of intoxicants.

In fact, the Prophet of Islam was so much concerned about it that he did not tolerate the consumption of even a small quantity of it. He said;

“What intoxicates is unlawful even if it is taken in smaller quantity”. (Tirmidi, Abu Daud, Ibn Majah)

He also took all important necessary steps to ensure that all forms of association with intoxicants are severed in the society which he established in Medina. Prophet of Islam said;

“Allah has cursed wine, the one who drinks it, the one who serves it, the one who has it extracted, the one who carries it, and the one whom it is carried.” (Tirmidi, Ibn Majah)

Thus Islam takes every necessary step to create a social environment in which all avenues for the consumption of liquor are closed. It has also provided the legal framework for framing and execution of laws in respect of the consumption of intoxicants. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) there was no specifically fixed punishment for the consumption of intoxicants. Forty strips were the maximum punishment meted out to this crime. But, during the period of Hazrat Umar, the second Caliph of Islam, when he saw that the crime was on the increase, he laid down sixty strips for this offence.

Islam has completely forbidden the trading in intoxicants, the Prophet of Islam stated as follows;

“Allah who has forbidden the consumption of intoxicants has also forbidden its sale.” (Ahmad, Muslim)

Al-Quran invites mankind to mutually co-operate and assist one another in promoting sin and evil.

“Help one another in good and righteousness, but do not co-operate in sinful deeds”.(Al-Quran – 5 : 2)

This Quranic verse emphasizes the fact that one should in no way extend his help or assistance to a sinful cause that is detrimental to human welfare on the basis of this principle. The Muslim jurists have declared and unlawful (Haram) the cultivation of hashish and all other forms of production of intoxicants and harmful drugs. All the statements of Muslim jurists in respect of this subject has been stated in detail by the eminent scholar As-Sheikh Abdul Rahman al Juzair in his book “Al Fiqh Ala al Mazahib al Arba‘ ( Islamic Jurisprudence on the Basis of Four Schools of Thought)   vol.v, p.39.

Having viewed the Islamic attitude to intoxicants and in a wider sense to the habit forming drugs, and the steps taken by Islam to eradicate this menace, let us reflect on the causes that leaves men to consume alcohol and drugs, and it what ways Islam could offer solution of this problem. Most of the people who are confronted with personal problems suffer from mental depression and find and escapism in alcohol and drug. Islam views human life as an eternal struggle. Life is full of trials and tribulations. According to the Holy Quran, life it self is a trial in which every individual has to struggle against all obstacles, material and moral to achieve a spiritual victory. According to Islamic perspective, it is the faith in God that gives hope to man at times of trial and suffering.

The sense of meaningless and the emptiness created in the minds of some people due to the absence of higher values in their life generate a sense of boredom in their minds. They exist in the world like a rudderless ship in an uncharted ocean. Then the whole life assumes a sense of meaninglessness – it is in order to fill this mental void that some people resort to drugs that causes a passion to have hallucinations – that is to see and hear things that do not exist. It is only by having faith in some higher principle, and living for a noble ideal, one could fill this void and emptiness. This must be a moral and spiritual ideal. The material objectives which are transitory and ephemeral cannot satisfy man’s inner quest. For Islam, the highest ideal is to find peace in the remembrance of God. “Verily the hearts attain peace in the remembrance of God“, says the Quran.

Many people take to intoxicant and drugs with the belief that it would increase their sexual potency and some others who develop a sense of inferiority complexity labour under the delusion that they could boost their personality and inflate their ego by taking drugs which would create for them a dream world, a world far away from the world of reality in which they are masters. It is only through the process of education that these false values can be removed from those men who have got a wrong perspective about life. According to Islam, every human individual is endowed with infinite potentialities but many do not develop them, and some completely smother them by their wrong conduct.

“We have indeed created man in the best of moulds” (Al-Quran – 95 : 4)

Thus to man, God has given the purest and serene nature, and it is the duty of man to preserve this pattern and purity and develop his inner potentialities, that would ennoble his personality.

It is well known that most of the drug addicts come from broken homes disintegration of the family is one of the serious challenges faced by today’s contemporary society. Absence of parental love and care make the children to take refuge in some source that would give them relief and comfort. Sometimes, the constant quarrels and wrangling between husband and wife, which create a state of absence of peace and harmony in the home environment and drive the children to a situation of finding comfort and solace in drugs. It is only by strengthening the family and creating a happy and peaceful home environment we could ensure the emotional stability of the children and pave the way for the growth of healthy balanced personalities.

The family and social environment place an important role in creating the atmosphere and environment for alcoholism and drug addiction. It is important to note that the treatment given to children in the early years of their life can have far-reaching effect on the mental and emotional development in their later life. Islam seeks to create a home environment where children are happy and cheerful and have a zest for life and living. Prophet of Islam said,

“Be generous, kind and noble to your children and make their habits and manners good and beautiful”

As it has been proved that a fair number of drug addicts come from broken homes it is very much essential to pay adequate attention to the task of strengthening the institution of the family and this is one of the important steps we should take in the effort to create a drug free society.

Islam which means peace, seeks to create a social order which is morally sound and spiritually elevated. It aims at creating healthy, balanced personalities, and a social environment that is conducive to the development of the inner potentialities of the human-being. It places before man, an ideal and endows human life with a sense of direction and goal. Islam’s attitude towards alcohol and drug addiction is based on this world-view and some of the measures it has prescribed to combat the menace of alcohol and drug addiction can help a great deal in solving this problem.