Friday, July 31, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam
The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
The general rule in Islam is that any beverage that get people intoxicated when taken is unlawful, both in small and large quantities, whether it is alcohol, drugs, fermented raisin drink, or something else.
In his book Al-Halal wal Haram fil Islam (The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam) Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi states the following:
The first declaration made by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) concerning this matter was that not only is Khamr (wine or alcohol) prohibited but that the definition of Khamr extends to any substance that intoxicates, in whatever form or under whatever name it may appear. Thus, beer and similar drinks are haram.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was once asked about certain drinks made from honey, corn, or barley by the process of fermenting them until they became alcoholic. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) succinctly replied, "Every intoxicant is Khamr, and every Khamr is haram." Reported by Muslim.)
And `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) declared from the pulpit of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that "Khamr is that which befogs the mind." (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Islam takes an uncompromising stand in prohibiting intoxicants, regardless of whether the amount is little or much. If an individual is permitted to take but a single step along this road, other steps follow; he starts walking and then running, and does not stop at any stage. That is why the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Of that which intoxicates in a large amount, a small amount is haram." (Reported by Ahmad Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi.) And again, "If a bucketful intoxicates, a sip of it is haram." (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi.)
Prohibition of Drugs:
"Khamr is what befogs the mind." These are the words spoken by `Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) from the pulpit of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) providing us with a decisive criterion for defining what falls under the prohibited category of khamr. There remains then no room for doubts and questions: any substance which has the effect of befogging or clouding the mind, impairing its faculties of thought, perception, and discernment is prohibited by Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and will remain so until the Day of Judgment.
Drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, opium, and the like are definitely included in the prohibited category of khamr. It is well known that the use of such drugs affects the sensory perceptions, making what is near seem distant and what is distant seem near; that their use produces illusions and hallucinations, so that the real seems to disappear and what is imaginary appears to be real; and that taking drugs in general impairs the faculty of reasoning and decision-making. Such drugs are taken as a means of escape from the inner reality of one's feelings and the outer realities of life and religion into the realm of fantasy and imagination.Added to this psychological fact are the physical effects: bodily lassitude, dullness of the nerves, and decline in overall health. The moral consequences, moral insensitivity, weakening of the will power, and neglect of responsibilities are also well known. Eventually, drug addiction weakens a person and makes him a diseased member of society. Furthermore, drug addiction may result in the destruction of the family or even drive one to a life of crime. Since obtaining drugs involves a great outlay of money, drug addiction may take its toll on the family budget and even it may tempt the drug addict to resort to illegal means to pay for drugs.
When we recall the principle that all impure and harmful things have been made haram, there can be no doubt in our minds concerning the prohibition of such detestable substances such as drugs, which cause so much physical, psychological, moral, social and economic harm.
Muslim jurists are unanimous on the prohibition of those drugs which were found during their respective times and places. Foremost among them was Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, who said: “This solid grass (hashish) is haram, whether or not it produces intoxication. Sinful people smoke it because they imagine it producing rapture and delight, an effect similar to drunkenness. While wine makes the one who drinks it active and quarrelsome, hashish produces dullness and lethargy; furthermore, smoking it disturbs the mind and temperament, excites sexual desire, and leads to shameless promiscuity, and these are greater evils than those caused by drinking. This perverted habit has spread among the people after the coming of the Tartars. The hadd (prescribed punishment) for smoking hashish, whether a small or large amount of it, is the same as that for drinking wine, that is, eighty or forty lashes.
He explained the imposition of hadd for smoking hashish in the following manner: It is the rule of the Islamic Shari'ah that any prohibited thing which is desired by people, such as wine and illicit sexual relations, is to be punished by imposing hadd, while the violation of a prohibited thing which is not desired, such as (eating) the flesh of a dead animal, calls for Ta'zeer (disciplinary punishment). Now hashish is something desired and craved for, and it is hard for the addict to renounce it. Accordingly, the application of the texts of the Qur'an and Sunnah to hashish is similar to that of wine. (Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah, vol. 4, p. 262. Also see his book, As-Siyasah Ash-Shar'iyyah.)
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
The general rule in Islam is that any beverage that get people intoxicated when taken is unlawful, both in small and large quantities, whether it is alcohol, drugs, fermented raisin drink, or something else.
In his book Al-Halal wal Haram fil Islam (The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam) Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi states the following:
The first declaration made by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) concerning this matter was that not only is Khamr (wine or alcohol) prohibited but that the definition of Khamr extends to any substance that intoxicates, in whatever form or under whatever name it may appear. Thus, beer and similar drinks are haram.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was once asked about certain drinks made from honey, corn, or barley by the process of fermenting them until they became alcoholic. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) succinctly replied, "Every intoxicant is Khamr, and every Khamr is haram." Reported by Muslim.)
And `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) declared from the pulpit of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that "Khamr is that which befogs the mind." (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Islam takes an uncompromising stand in prohibiting intoxicants, regardless of whether the amount is little or much. If an individual is permitted to take but a single step along this road, other steps follow; he starts walking and then running, and does not stop at any stage. That is why the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Of that which intoxicates in a large amount, a small amount is haram." (Reported by Ahmad Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi.) And again, "If a bucketful intoxicates, a sip of it is haram." (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi.)
Prohibition of Drugs:
"Khamr is what befogs the mind." These are the words spoken by `Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) from the pulpit of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) providing us with a decisive criterion for defining what falls under the prohibited category of khamr. There remains then no room for doubts and questions: any substance which has the effect of befogging or clouding the mind, impairing its faculties of thought, perception, and discernment is prohibited by Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and will remain so until the Day of Judgment.
Drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, opium, and the like are definitely included in the prohibited category of khamr. It is well known that the use of such drugs affects the sensory perceptions, making what is near seem distant and what is distant seem near; that their use produces illusions and hallucinations, so that the real seems to disappear and what is imaginary appears to be real; and that taking drugs in general impairs the faculty of reasoning and decision-making. Such drugs are taken as a means of escape from the inner reality of one's feelings and the outer realities of life and religion into the realm of fantasy and imagination.Added to this psychological fact are the physical effects: bodily lassitude, dullness of the nerves, and decline in overall health. The moral consequences, moral insensitivity, weakening of the will power, and neglect of responsibilities are also well known. Eventually, drug addiction weakens a person and makes him a diseased member of society. Furthermore, drug addiction may result in the destruction of the family or even drive one to a life of crime. Since obtaining drugs involves a great outlay of money, drug addiction may take its toll on the family budget and even it may tempt the drug addict to resort to illegal means to pay for drugs.
When we recall the principle that all impure and harmful things have been made haram, there can be no doubt in our minds concerning the prohibition of such detestable substances such as drugs, which cause so much physical, psychological, moral, social and economic harm.
Muslim jurists are unanimous on the prohibition of those drugs which were found during their respective times and places. Foremost among them was Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, who said: “This solid grass (hashish) is haram, whether or not it produces intoxication. Sinful people smoke it because they imagine it producing rapture and delight, an effect similar to drunkenness. While wine makes the one who drinks it active and quarrelsome, hashish produces dullness and lethargy; furthermore, smoking it disturbs the mind and temperament, excites sexual desire, and leads to shameless promiscuity, and these are greater evils than those caused by drinking. This perverted habit has spread among the people after the coming of the Tartars. The hadd (prescribed punishment) for smoking hashish, whether a small or large amount of it, is the same as that for drinking wine, that is, eighty or forty lashes.
He explained the imposition of hadd for smoking hashish in the following manner: It is the rule of the Islamic Shari'ah that any prohibited thing which is desired by people, such as wine and illicit sexual relations, is to be punished by imposing hadd, while the violation of a prohibited thing which is not desired, such as (eating) the flesh of a dead animal, calls for Ta'zeer (disciplinary punishment). Now hashish is something desired and craved for, and it is hard for the addict to renounce it. Accordingly, the application of the texts of the Qur'an and Sunnah to hashish is similar to that of wine. (Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah, vol. 4, p. 262. Also see his book, As-Siyasah Ash-Shar'iyyah.)
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Drug Abuse Threatens Indonesia’s Younger Generation
By Hani MumtazahJakarta, Indonesia
04/09/2003
Bambang had been a cheerful and active boy, but as he grew up he turned into a quiet and ‘mysterious’ young man. His family suspected that he might be a drug addict, but they were reluctant to talk openly about the problem, which could bring disgrace to the family. Only a few times did they ask him whether he was an illicit drug user, and he always responded that he did not take illicit drugs any longer. Until one day he collapsed and finally passed away after being hospitalized for three days.
Drug Abuse in Indonesia: The Causes Thousands of young men have wasted their lives because of illicit drugs in Indonesia. They were mostly victims of a ‘cruel’ environment, a broken-home family, of ignorance, of curiosity or particularly of the illegal drugs mafia. Although Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim country, with 80% of its 212 million embracing Islam, it is estimated that the country has around 4 million illicit drug users – about one in every 50 Indonesians. In the capital city of Jakarta, it is estimated that three out of ten young people are users.
A study by the International Labor Organization (ILO) office in Indonesia showed that around four per cent of illicit drug users in the country are children under 17 years old. Two out of ten users are involved in illicit trafficking. Some teenagers start being involved in producing and trafficking ‘narkoba’ between the ages of 13 and 15, says Gita Lingga, a spokesperson of ILO Jakarta.
‘Narkoba’ is the Indonesian term for narcotics, psychotropic and addictive substances. Psychotropic substances popularly called Ecstasy and Shabu-shabu are considered favorites among the middle and upper class users. However, for an increasing number of young people, the drug of choice is low-grade heroin, known as putaw, which is cheap, plentiful, but potentially deadly.
These drugs are readily available in all major urban areas, including schools, Karaoke lounges, bars, cafes, discotheques, nightclubs, and they even spread into remote villages. Therefore it is not surprising that drug users continue to increase from year to year.
People usually take drugs to have fun or escape the pressures of life. Drug users among students are particularly worrying. It was reported that a number of traffickers operate around schools by cheating, forcing or giving free illicit drugs to students. Once the students are addicted, they then go to the traffickers to buy the illicit drugs. If they do not have money, they steal it from their family members or others.
Recently, the police caught elementary students, as young as seven years old, for using illicit drugs in North Sulawesi. Chairman of the National Narcotics Coordinating Board (BKNN), Pol. Gen. Togar Sianipar, said that the country’s illicit drug users include around 7,000 junior high school students, over 10,000 senior high school students and about 800 elementary school students.
The Waning Role of the Family
Schools are among the top targets for anti-narkoba campaigns
According to BKNN, the government's policy against the drug problem is comprehensive and multidimensional, covering the aspects of prevention, eradication of drug abuse and drug crimes. Schools are among the top targets for anti-narkoba campaigns.
Sianipar said a crucial factor that worsens drug abuse among youth is a lack of control from family members, especially parents. “People are now becoming more materialistic. They work day and night to earn more money, and they forget that their children need their care and love above all materialistic things,” he said.
Recognizing the important role of women in rearing children, BKNN has signed a cooperation agreement with the Indonesian Women Congress (Kowani) to promote an anti-illicit drugs campaign for the years 2002 –2003. Executive Director of BKNN Nurfaizi said that one of the obstacles facing the government in dealing with drug abuse is a lack of support and openness from the family members of drug victims.
Openness is one of the keys to preventing drug abuse. Therefore, it was very timely that “Let’s Talk About Drugs” became the theme for this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The theme summed up the best starting point for tackling any problem: recognizing that it exists and speaking openly about it, said the UN Secretary General in his message on the Anti-Drug Day commemoration last June.
An estimated 200 million people worldwide use illicit drugs, amounting to around 4.7 per cent of the global population aged over 14. “But the effects of drug abuse go far beyond the individuals concerned and cause incalculable harm to society in health, social and economic terms -- including the spread of HIV,” said Kofi Annan in his message.
"Let's Talk About Drugs" underlines the need for children, families, peers, teachers and communities to talk about drug abuse, admit that it is a problem, and take responsibility for doing something about it. “The support of caring and listening parents has proven to be one of the most important protective factors against drug abuse. But for the many young people around the world who do not have the advantage of a supportive home environment, we all have a special responsibility,” said the UN Secretary General.
In Indonesia, when speaking in commemoration of the National Family Day last June 2003, President Megawati Soekarnoputri urged the Indonesian people to pay more attention to the quality of their families, because later it will determine the nation's future.
"The future of our statehood and nationhood will depend much on our continuous efforts to improve the quality of our respective families." She particularly expressed her concern over the increasing failure in building good family management, quoting a report from BKNN saying that of the 15,000 drug abuse cases in the past two years, some 46 percent are youngsters aging from 17 to 30 years.
International Syndicates
“More than 50% of prisoners in Indonesian jails..are those involved in drug problems.”
Gen. Da’i Bachtiar
Reports on increasing drug abuse indicate that Indonesia has shifted from previously being a transit area into becoming a consumption and marketing area. The National Anti Narcotics Movement (Granat), the most prominent drug prevention NGO in Indonesia, confirms that the use of heroin and opium derivatives is increasing, particularly in Jakarta, despite the nation’s commitment to become a drug-free Indonesia by the year 2015.
Chief of the Indonesian Police, Gen. Da’i Bachtiar, also acknowledged that illicit drug abuse and trafficking continue to increase lately. “More than 50 percent of prisoners in Indonesian jails at present are those involved in drugs problems. The prisoners include foreigners, which indicates that an international syndicate is also responsible for trafficking in this country,” he said when speaking at the commemoration of the International Day Against Illicit Drug Abuse and Trafficking at the Vice Presidential Palace on June 26, 2003.
The increasing smuggling of heroin is mostly conducted by African couriers, followed by Asians and Europeans, and in a smaller number by Americans and Australians. Many of the foreign drug traffickers establish themselves in Indonesia by speaking the local language and marrying Indonesian women.
According to the 1999 Narcotics Report on the Asia-Pacific Region, Indonesia is becoming increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated trafficking groups. The country is particularly vulnerable to mail and courier shipments of drug trafficking organizations, especially heroin and cocaine. Heroin is believed to be smuggled into Indonesia from the "Golden Triangle" countries (Thailand, Burma, and Laos). Drugs entering Indonesia frequently transit Thailand, either from Bangkok to Jakarta or from Bangkok to Singapore to Jakarta. The Indonesian Police also report an increase in heroin and opium derivatives being smuggled into Jakarta and Bali from the "Golden Crescent" countries (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran).
Africans suspected to be drug smugglers are very closely scrutinized by Indonesian law enforcers, and the potential for them to be brutalized or killed during an attempted arrest is statistically greater than any other ethnic group, according to the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2002. It is very unfortunate that the presence of a few African drug smugglers in Indonesia has seriously damaged the image of African people in the eyes of the Indonesian people.
Although efforts in the prevention of smuggling have improved, which shows in the number of arrests of African nationals acting as couriers, the illicit trafficking of drugs is not showing a declining trend. In 1997, the Indonesian Parliament approved legislation outlawing psychotropic drugs including ecstasy, and providing for penalties of up to seven years imprisonment for marijuana possession and a maximum of 20 years in jail for marijuana trafficking. The Law No. 22 of the 1997 amended narcotic Law No.9 of 1976. But the severe penalties do not intimidate the smugglers and traffickers from continuing their activities.
On the occasion of Anti-Drug Day, the Indonesian Police destroyed illicit drugs worth Rp 11,7 billion (over one million US dollars), consisting of, among other things, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, Cannabis sativa, shabu-shabu, amphetamine and Benzodiazepam.
According to Stephen E. Flynn, a senior fellow at the US National Security Studies, in his article on Drugs published on the Council on Foreign Relations website in the year 2000, illicit drugs were one of the world's largest commodities businesses. Estimates of its annual revenues ranged from $100 billion to as high as $500 billion.
The Chief of the Indonesian Police, Da'i Bachtiar, has stated that he will model BKNN after the United States DEA, and it will have a specific responsibility for intelligence networking and the investigation of international drug syndicates that impact Indonesia's counter narcotics efforts.
Injection Safety and AIDS
Drug abuse has also contributed to the increase of HIV/AIDS patients in Indonesia, through the usage of unsterile injections. According to a report based on an illicit drug and injection safety study of 20 Asian countries conducted by the Center for Harm Reduction in Australia’s Burnet Institute, drug injecting is spreading to all the countries [of Asia] and its popularity is increasing. Professional injectors of illicit drugs operate in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Vietnam, said the report.
New populations, especially young people, are becoming involved with illicit drugs and with their injection. Indonesia could have up to 1 million drug injectors. The number in China is estimated to be 3.5 million. A high proportion of drug injectors are infected with HIV in China (70%), Indonesia (19%), Iran (75%), Myanmar (63%), Kathmandu, Nepal (50%), Thailand (50%), and Vietnam (63%).
The Burnet Institute’s report, which has been described as "the most comprehensive review of drug use and HIV/AIDS in Asia”, found that drug use had become one of the major causes of the HIV epidemic in the Asia region.
In Indonesia, some 3,614 HIV/AIDS patients were recorded since 1987, and 332 of them have died. The threat of HIV/AIDS in Indonesia could be more worrying than those in Africa, because it multiplies very fast due to the use of contaminated injections by drug users. In 1995, only 2 per cent of new HIV/AIDS infections nationwide were due to drug use; by 2001 this had risen to 20 per cent. In the same year, 47 per cent of injecting drug users at RSKO hospital tested positive for HIV. Similar findings elsewhere suggest needle sharing will soon surpass unsafe sex as the most common method of contracting HIV.
Indonesian Government Suffers from Corruption
There is an increasing role of concerned citizens and NGOs involved in the fight against drugs, in particular in the fields of prevention and rehabilitation. Since 1999, an anti-drug abuse foundation called YCAB has been campaigning to the general public, keeping in mind that the spread and use of illicit drugs is a national problem. The campaign conducted by YCAB is done through the mass media in the form of Public Service Ads in the radio and television, major newspapers, magazines, billboards, posters, banners and brochure distributions.
Despite growing awareness of the problem, Indonesia faces unique obstacles and some reluctance in dealing with it. “Although the use of illicit drugs is increasing, political conflict, power struggles and widespread corruption are influencing how the drug-related HIV/AIDS crisis should be tackled," the Macfarlane Burnet report said.
"The government needs to make a moral commitment to dealing with this problem," says Chairman of the National Movement of Anti-Narcotics and Other Illicit Drugs (Granat), Henry Yosodiningrat. "But one obstacle to obtaining that commitment is that the syndicates have a lot of money to buy officials and this is one of the most corrupt countries." Law enforcement in Indonesia is considered very weak due to bribery and corruption, which are quite common among security and legal officers.
A vice chairman of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Oesman Sapta said that the government is actually not serious enough in dealing with drug problems. “Every day there are reports of arrests of drug users, but those arrests are not significant. The government must arrest and punish big traffickers to death. The youths are merely victims,” he said.
Enforcement officials lack training and experience in contemporary enforcement and investigative methodologies, and corruption is a constant problem. Indonesia has laws to punish official corruption, including corruption by high-level officials. Indonesian law also punishes anyone who tries to hamper the investigation or prosecution of a narcotics crime with five years in prison and a fine of Rupiahs 150,000,000 (approximately $15,000). These laws are rarely enforced, however, and low salaries mean individual officials are susceptible to bribery.
In 1997, the Indonesian Parliament approved legislation outlawing psychotropic drugs including ecstasy, and providing for penalties of up to seven years imprisonment for marijuana possession and a maximum of 20 years in jail for marijuana trafficking. But, some NGOs have called for the death penalty as part of a high-profile campaign against illegal drugs.
According to the Granat chief, 90 per cent of the 4 million addicts are poor. It is the duty of the government to save the young people, the assets and the future of the nation. The addicted youths are victims and they have the right to receive medical services from the government. The government must set up rehabilitation centers, which provide free medical services for them, and not only make statements, he said.
Currently, there is not one free rehabilitation center for poor drug addicts in Indonesia. The existing rehabilitation centers for drug addicts are mostly commercial and only the rich can afford sending their addicted children there.
“This is an extremely serious issue for us. It's a threat that could kill an entire generation," said Granat Chief Henry Yosodiningrat, a Jakarta lawyer and a member of the government's National Narcotics Agency.
"One generation of this nation will be lost if we do not take action together and immediately. In short, we must be ready to go to war against illicit drugs and the war must start from home,” he said, adding that therefore active participation of women are very crucial to win the war.
To the young people, he reminded that they must not try to use any illicit drugs whatsoever, because once they try, they will be trapped and later become addicted, and the addiction will finally turn them into criminals or take their lives.
Sources:
2003, Message of the Secretary General on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and illicit trafficking
2003, ANTARA, ILO-IPEC report on drug abuse among the young people in Indonesia
2002, Immunization Update, the World Bank
2000, DRUGS by Stephen E. Flynn, Senior Fellow for National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations
The Asian Harm Reduction Network, The Burnet Institute report, Australia
2002, Excerpt from International Narcotics Control Strategy Report March 2002, The US Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
2003, Indonesia is dancing with death, The Age, Australia
Hani Mumtazah is an environmental journalist based in Jakarta, Indonesia. She graduated from a three-year English language non-decree program at the University of Indonesia, Jakarta. She attended the Non-Aligned News Agencies Journalism Course in New Delhi, India, in 1987. Comments and suggestions may be forwarded to her by contacting the editor at: ScienceTech@islam-online.net
Alcohol in Islam
Alcohol in Islam
Islam’s holistic approach to health and well-being means that anything that is harmful or mostly harmful, is forbidden. Therefore, Islam takes an uncompromising stand towards alcohol and forbids its consumption in either small or large quantities. Alcohol is undoubtedly harmful and adversely affects the mind and the body. It clouds the mind, causes disease, wastes money, and destroys individuals, families, and communities. Researchers[1] have proven that there is a strong link between alcohol and gambling. Drinking impairs judgement, lowers inhibition, and encourages the type of risk taking involved in gambling and dangerous activities. God tells us in the Quran that intoxicants and gambling are abominations from Satan and orders us to avoid them. (Quran 5: 90)
In Australia, a country with a population of around 20 million, about 3000 people die each year from alcohol abuse while 65,000 others are hospitalised. Studies have consistently revealed a link between heavy drinking and brain damage and around 2500 Australians are treated annually for alcohol related brain damage. Research in the United Kingdom indicates that 6% of cancer deaths are related to alcohol abuse and Harvard Centre for Cancer Prevention says that drinking greatly increases the risk for numerous cancers. Alcohol is considered highly carcinogenic, increasing the risk of mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, and breast cancers. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, causing the child to be small at birth, have some facial malformations, small eye openings, webbed or even missing fingers or toes, organ deformities, learning disabilities, mental retardation and much more.
Researchers in Australia have also estimated that 47% of all those who commit violent crimes, and 43% of all victims of these crimes, were drunk prior to the event. Alcohol is responsible for 44% of fire injuries, 34% of falls and drownings, 30% of car accidents, 16% of child abuse instances, and 7% of industrial accidents. Even though it is clear that alcohol is responsible for a great many evils it is legal and even encouraged in most societies. In Muslim countries where alcohol is forbidden many people still find it difficult to resist temptation and fall prey to the disease that is alcoholism. Amazingly even in the light of such startling evidence against alcohol, people around the globe continue to consume alcohol in ever-increasing amounts. Why?
Alcohol is one of the tools Satan uses to distract humankind from the worship of God. God states clearly in the Quran that Satan is an open enemy towards humankind yet by drinking alcohol, we invite Satan into our lives and make it easy for him to distract us from our real purpose in life, to worship God.
“Surely, Satan is an enemy to you, so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his followers that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire.” (Quran 35:6)
Alcohol affects the mind and makes sinful behaviour and evil actions fair seeming. It creates enmity and hatred between people, prevents them from remembering God and distracts them from praying, and calls them to participate in unlawful sexual relationships. Alcohol generates shame, regret, and disgrace, and renders the drinker witless. It leads to the disclosure of secrets and exposure of faults.
“Satan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of God and from the prayer. So, will you not then abstain?” (Quran 5:91)
In pre Islamic Arabia, alcohol use was widespread. To eradicate this evil, God in His mercy revealed the prohibition in stages. First, He made it clear to them that the harm of drinking alcohol is greater than its benefit, next He told the Muslims not to come to prayer while intoxicated and finally, He revealed a verse totally prohibiting alcohol.
“O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, idolatry, and diving arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. So avoid that so that you may be successful.” (Quran 5: 90)
When this was revealed the Muslim citizens of Medina immediately began to destroy and empty their alcohol containers into the street. Even those who were guiltlessly enjoying cups of wine spat the alcohol from their mouths. It is said that the streets of Medina ran with alcohol. Why then is it so difficult to expunge this evil in the 21st century? Believers today must completely trust God, in the same way that the first Muslims trusted God and understood that He was their only Protector and Provider. All power and strength comes from God and a scourge like alcohol can be eradicated only when those affected by alcohol turn to God with complete submission.
The Quran is a book of guidance sent to all of humankind. It is a set of instructions from the Creator for His creation. If we follow these instructions, our lives will be easy and tranquil, even in the face of disaster and mishap. God links alcohol and gambling to idolatry and declares it filthy and evil; however, He is merciful and generous towards the believers and acknowledges the power of addiction.
Islam is committed to encouraging and facilitating those who wish to repent from evil doing and sinful behaviour. God accepts repentance from those who are truly sorry for their actions and committed to staying away from sin. Muslim communities do not ostracise those who have made mistakes but keep them within the fold of Islam encouraging them to seek the closeness to God that will allow them to leave sinful behaviour. Friends, family, and neighbours do not just look away while a person destroys himself or his family. Islam is a community-oriented faith. There is no place for an individual to do what he wants to do, if it hurts others. Alcohol abuse affects not just the alcoholic but also his or her family, and community. There is great wisdom in the prohibition of alcohol.
Footnotes:
[1] All research in this article is taken from http://salvos.org.au/need-help/thefacts/documents/Bingedrinking.pdf
Burning Question for Economy
Burning Question for EconomyDrugs abuse affect the rich and the poor , educated and uneducated, professional and blue collar worker. Indeed there is no area of society which is not affected by drug abuse and this include the business community also . for any business , large or small , the abuse of drug in the work place can often lead to serious consequences. Increased accidents , reduce or loss of productivity , poor work performance and absenteeism.
There are approximately 5 million drug addicts in Pakistan. Drugs are easily available in every corner of the street. No place is safe, our home, our work place, our society (office, factories, transport, and restaurant).
Approximately an addict spends Rs. 150 per day on drugs. There are 5 million drug addicts in country, so 5000000 addicts spend Rs. 750 millions in just one day, in a month 22500 Millions and in a year Rs.270 billion. These are the direct expense on drugs. There is no data available about the losses which are bearing our economy due to absenteeism, wastage of time, low productivity and accidents of drug abuser in the work places.
One of the consequence of drug abuse in the work place is that economy of the Pakistan pays a big price for it . employee accident and errors , high illness rates , wastage of time , low productivity and absenteeism are just few example of the effect of illicit drug use .
A survey conducted by the united state Health and human service indicates that:
• Drug abuser functions at approximately 65% of their capacity
• Up to 40 % of industrial fatalities and 47 % of industrial injuries can be linked to drug abuse.
• Employee who abuse drugs are 3.6 times more likely to be involved in a work place accident and five times more likely to file a worker’s compensation claim
• An estimated 500 million work days are lost annually due alcohol and drug abuse in America
• Employees who abuse drugs are more likely to request early dismissal or time off, 2.5 time more likely to be late for work .
• Illicit drug user are more then twice as likely then those who do not abuse drug to changed employers 3 are more times in the past years
• Employees who abuse drugs cost their employers about twice as much in the medical claims
• Accordingly the united state national institute of drug addiction reports that almost 10% of all employees use drug .
There is a strong need to launch a grand operation to eliminate the silent disaster by government , business community and general public
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Haider Meher
Haider_meher@hotmail.com
03332233205
Drug use in Colleges & Universities Rapidly Growing
Drug use in Colleges & Universities Rapidly Growing
One out of every 10 students is a drug addictIslamabad, June 26: Drug abuse is rapidly growing in Pakistan, especially amongst youth in colleges and universities, resulting in serious social and health implications. Almost five per cent (five million) of adult population in the country is using drugs and its use is growing at an annual rate of seven per cent, while according to estimates, one out of every 10 college/university students in Pakistan is a drug addict.
According to a National Assessment study on Drug Abuse in Pakistan, there are estimated 500,000 heroin users and 125,000 injecting drug users in the country and the number of latter has doubled since 2000, which is alarming. Over 40,000 street children are involved in solvent substance abuse in merely four major cities of the country namely Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the study reveals.
"Over the last 20 years, the increasing number of drug addicts has brought a bad name to the country and today, Pakistan is highly notorious for the phenomenon," said Head of Community Medicine at Islamabad Medical & Dental College, Islamabad Prof Dr Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhry, in connection with the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking that is observed on June 26 each year around the globe.
The United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) leads the international awareness raising campaign of the major problems that illicit drugs represent to society and especially to young people. "The theme of this year, the same as of 2007 and 2008, 'Do Drugs Control Your Life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs' communicates that the destructive effects of illicit drugs concern us all," said Dr Ashraf. According to UNODC, nearly 200 million people worldwide are using illicit drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative hypnotics.
The world of drug addicts is also getting bigger in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. According to an estimate, the peddling of narcotics is going on at more than 80 points in Rawalpindi city without any check. At these points, hashish, charas, opium, heroin and morphine is being sold by both male and female agents. "Most of the male agents are kiosk owners, vendors, vegetable sellers, beggars, automobile mechanics and shopkeepers, but they actually sell narcotics to their clients," said Dr Ashraf.
The main drug-peddling points are located in areas of Raja Bazaar, Banni, Pirwadhai, Sadiqabad and Chaklala Scheme III. Cannabis (hashish) is the cheapest of all narcotics and easily available in the twin cities at the rate of Rs20,000 per kilogram while heroin - a highly addictive substance - is available for Rs100 per dose.
"Drug addicts are mostly found busy in their activities in extremely unhygienic areas, especially near nullahs and shrines, bus stops and railway stations," said Dr Ashraf adding that covered in ragged clothes with untrimmed hair and bearded faces, drug users spend days under the sky without having any meal.
To a query, Dr Ashraf said often the narcotic substance is linked to factors such as risk taking behaviours that might involve experimenting with narcotics, smoking and alcohol, social isolation, the need to cope with unfamiliar and stressful situations, peer pressure (bad company), unemployment, excessive pocket money by parents and lack of supervision, the desire for social acceptance, boredom, curiosity, just to feel good, weak religious beliefs and a lot of free time at their disposal.
"While some of the physical effects of drugs may sound nice, they do not last long. Many people get depressed and start feeling sick shortly after being on drugs, while the physical and sexual health of addicts weaken so rapidly that a young man in his 30s looks like an old man of over 60 when on drugs," he added.
Drug abuse causes not only the economic breakdown of a family but also the loss of self-confidence and will on part of the addict along with the loss of job, indulgence in crimes such as theft, and suicidal thoughts. Drug addicts are also more prone to accidents and are at higher risk of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B & C and tuberculosis. Married drug addicts have a high probability of having mentally retarded and physically handicapped children, said Dr Ashraf.
Talking about the preventive measures of drug use, he said parents could recognise addiction in their children by noting some of the symptoms including deep body emaciation, loss of appetite, difficulty in breathing and fatigue, strong nervous disturbance, prolonged home absences, much money demand, lying to get money, remaining isolated, long sleep periods, laziness, pale face, tremors in fingers, constipation, irregularities in work and studies, and marks and traces of abuse on the body. "Parents after witnessing even a few of the above symptoms in their child should immediately get him/her examined," advised Dr Ashraf.
An addict is a sick person and needs humanistic treatment that comprises three stages - assessment, detoxification and rehabilitation. The most difficult part of the treatment is rehabilitation in which there is a need to motivate a patient to take up any healthy activity preferably away from old places and old company. "No one should be stigmatised because of his dependence on drugs," he said.
For the prevention and control of drug abuse, he urged running campaigns through mass media, essay contests, lectures and declamation contests in schools, colleges and universities in order to create awareness about the ill effects of drug addiction. The evidence points to a pressing need of taking drug abuse very seriously, and parents and teachers along with government and public health agencies should be alert to the rising epidemic of drug abuse among the Pakistani youth.
Dr Ashraf said efforts should be made to control tobacco smoking in the country, as it is the gateway to drug abuse. "Parents should be vigilant and keep an eye on the company/activities of their children. They should keep their children busy and motivate them to say their prayers regularly. He added that the government should solve the unemployment problem in the country, as economic worries provide a fertile ground to an individual for drug addiction.
"Free quitlines (telephone helpline offering treatment for addiction and behaviour change) for counselling services should be made available," he said and added that the government should increase the number of treatment and rehabilitation centres for drug addicts. Moreover, services provided for drug dependence in different sectors (government, NGOs, and private) need to be assessed for their quality, effectiveness and efficiency in providing a continuum of care and meeting the clients' diverse needs, he said.
The message must be promoted that drugs are slow poison in all forms and death follows drug addicts, concluded Dr Ashraf
One out of every 10 students is a drug addictIslamabad, June 26: Drug abuse is rapidly growing in Pakistan, especially amongst youth in colleges and universities, resulting in serious social and health implications. Almost five per cent (five million) of adult population in the country is using drugs and its use is growing at an annual rate of seven per cent, while according to estimates, one out of every 10 college/university students in Pakistan is a drug addict.
According to a National Assessment study on Drug Abuse in Pakistan, there are estimated 500,000 heroin users and 125,000 injecting drug users in the country and the number of latter has doubled since 2000, which is alarming. Over 40,000 street children are involved in solvent substance abuse in merely four major cities of the country namely Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the study reveals.
"Over the last 20 years, the increasing number of drug addicts has brought a bad name to the country and today, Pakistan is highly notorious for the phenomenon," said Head of Community Medicine at Islamabad Medical & Dental College, Islamabad Prof Dr Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhry, in connection with the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking that is observed on June 26 each year around the globe.
The United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) leads the international awareness raising campaign of the major problems that illicit drugs represent to society and especially to young people. "The theme of this year, the same as of 2007 and 2008, 'Do Drugs Control Your Life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs' communicates that the destructive effects of illicit drugs concern us all," said Dr Ashraf. According to UNODC, nearly 200 million people worldwide are using illicit drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative hypnotics.
The world of drug addicts is also getting bigger in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. According to an estimate, the peddling of narcotics is going on at more than 80 points in Rawalpindi city without any check. At these points, hashish, charas, opium, heroin and morphine is being sold by both male and female agents. "Most of the male agents are kiosk owners, vendors, vegetable sellers, beggars, automobile mechanics and shopkeepers, but they actually sell narcotics to their clients," said Dr Ashraf.
The main drug-peddling points are located in areas of Raja Bazaar, Banni, Pirwadhai, Sadiqabad and Chaklala Scheme III. Cannabis (hashish) is the cheapest of all narcotics and easily available in the twin cities at the rate of Rs20,000 per kilogram while heroin - a highly addictive substance - is available for Rs100 per dose.
"Drug addicts are mostly found busy in their activities in extremely unhygienic areas, especially near nullahs and shrines, bus stops and railway stations," said Dr Ashraf adding that covered in ragged clothes with untrimmed hair and bearded faces, drug users spend days under the sky without having any meal.
To a query, Dr Ashraf said often the narcotic substance is linked to factors such as risk taking behaviours that might involve experimenting with narcotics, smoking and alcohol, social isolation, the need to cope with unfamiliar and stressful situations, peer pressure (bad company), unemployment, excessive pocket money by parents and lack of supervision, the desire for social acceptance, boredom, curiosity, just to feel good, weak religious beliefs and a lot of free time at their disposal.
"While some of the physical effects of drugs may sound nice, they do not last long. Many people get depressed and start feeling sick shortly after being on drugs, while the physical and sexual health of addicts weaken so rapidly that a young man in his 30s looks like an old man of over 60 when on drugs," he added.
Drug abuse causes not only the economic breakdown of a family but also the loss of self-confidence and will on part of the addict along with the loss of job, indulgence in crimes such as theft, and suicidal thoughts. Drug addicts are also more prone to accidents and are at higher risk of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B & C and tuberculosis. Married drug addicts have a high probability of having mentally retarded and physically handicapped children, said Dr Ashraf.
Talking about the preventive measures of drug use, he said parents could recognise addiction in their children by noting some of the symptoms including deep body emaciation, loss of appetite, difficulty in breathing and fatigue, strong nervous disturbance, prolonged home absences, much money demand, lying to get money, remaining isolated, long sleep periods, laziness, pale face, tremors in fingers, constipation, irregularities in work and studies, and marks and traces of abuse on the body. "Parents after witnessing even a few of the above symptoms in their child should immediately get him/her examined," advised Dr Ashraf.
An addict is a sick person and needs humanistic treatment that comprises three stages - assessment, detoxification and rehabilitation. The most difficult part of the treatment is rehabilitation in which there is a need to motivate a patient to take up any healthy activity preferably away from old places and old company. "No one should be stigmatised because of his dependence on drugs," he said.
For the prevention and control of drug abuse, he urged running campaigns through mass media, essay contests, lectures and declamation contests in schools, colleges and universities in order to create awareness about the ill effects of drug addiction. The evidence points to a pressing need of taking drug abuse very seriously, and parents and teachers along with government and public health agencies should be alert to the rising epidemic of drug abuse among the Pakistani youth.
Dr Ashraf said efforts should be made to control tobacco smoking in the country, as it is the gateway to drug abuse. "Parents should be vigilant and keep an eye on the company/activities of their children. They should keep their children busy and motivate them to say their prayers regularly. He added that the government should solve the unemployment problem in the country, as economic worries provide a fertile ground to an individual for drug addiction.
"Free quitlines (telephone helpline offering treatment for addiction and behaviour change) for counselling services should be made available," he said and added that the government should increase the number of treatment and rehabilitation centres for drug addicts. Moreover, services provided for drug dependence in different sectors (government, NGOs, and private) need to be assessed for their quality, effectiveness and efficiency in providing a continuum of care and meeting the clients' diverse needs, he said.
The message must be promoted that drugs are slow poison in all forms and death follows drug addicts, concluded Dr Ashraf
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