What is the Islamic ruling on drug use?

Imam al-Ghazali in his work "al-Mustasfa" states: "Sharia aims to preserve five things – religion, life, intellect, lineage, and property. Any action that protects these five is considered good, and anything that harms them is considered harmful and should be prevented." The use of drugs harms all five of these essentials.

A person who uses drugs does not obey Allah's commands, neglects obligatory duties, and is not afraid to commit sins. This leads to neglecting religion and being deprived of blessings in the Hereafter. Drugs poison the mind, damage health, cause addiction, and can ultimately lead to death. Drug addiction also reduces sexual ability, and children born to addicts are often physically or mentally impaired. Thus, drug abuse harms a person's religion, health, and future generations, and also pushes people toward crime, harming society as a whole.

The ruling of our Sharia on drugs is that they are haram (forbidden). Our scholars have provided several proofs for this. Allah says in Surah al-Ma'idah, verse 90:

"O you who have believed! Indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone altars, and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful!"

Alcohol intoxicates and clouds the mind. Drugs do the same, so their use is also haram.

Allah says in Surah al-A'raf, verse 157:

"He makes lawful for them what is good and forbids them what is impure..."

Anyone with reason can see that drugs are impure. Allah also says in Surah al-Baqarah, verse 195:

"Do not throw yourselves into destruction with your own hands..."

Our Sharia calls us to avoid anything that harms life or health. Drugs cause physical, psychological, and social harm.

Imam Ibn Abidin wrote in his book: "The use of hashish and opium is haram. Because they cloud the mind and prevent remembrance of Allah and prayer."

In summary, drug addiction is extremely harmful to both the individual and society. Therefore, our Sharia has declared drug use haram. Likewise, selling, buying, or profiting from drugs is also haram, because anything that leads to haram is itself haram.

Medet Kurmashuly,

"Iman" magazine, No.1, 2023