How Should We Treat Drug Addicts?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti
Question
How should we treat drug addicts?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and prayers and peace be upon our master Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.
In dealing with drug addicts, we must consider addiction as a medical condition. This situation requires us to exercise the utmost wisdom in dealing with the addict and provide appropriate care and attention.
Our approach must encompass several important principles, including:
- Family support and acceptance of the addict
- Calm dialogue to understand the causes of addiction and address them
- Preventing relapse
- Cutting off means and ways that lead to continued substance abuse
- Maintaining complete confidentiality
This approach also involves reminding and advising the addict about accepting treatment and overcoming addiction, in cooperation with the relevant authorities. And Allah ultimately knows best.
Details and Explanation
Before discussing how to deal with drug addicts, it is essential to have a quick understanding of the concept of addiction and drugs, followed by their ruling in Sharia.
Definition of Addiction
In Arabic, the word ‘addict’ (المُدْمِنُ) is the active participle of the verb أَدْمَنَ, meaning to persist or not cease. [al-Mu‘jam al-Wasit] Ibn al-Athir said: “An alcohol addict is one who constantly drinks it and does not stop.”
In legal terminology, the definition of an addict aligns with its linguistic usage. The jurists referred to addiction here as “insistence” (الإِصْرَارُ), as Qurtubi said: “Insistence is the heart‘s determination to continue an act and not to cease it, and Qatada stated: “Insistence is persistence in sins.” [al-Mawsu‘a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya]
And so Addiction here means the condition resulting from the continuous use of narcotic substances, making a person psychologically and physically dependent on them, and requiring an increased dosage over time to achieve the same effect.
Definition of Drugs
Linguistically, the word for drug (المُخدِّر) is derived from خَدَر, meaning lethargy or relaxation, as in an organ becoming relaxed to the point of being unable to move. It also refers to a substance causing varying degrees of unconsciousness, like cannabis, opium, etc. [Majallat al-Buhut al-Islamiyya] The term here refers to a state that dulls the mind and thought due to lethargy and heaviness, and a drug is anything that causes this state of mind. [al-Khin, al-Bugha, al-Sharbaji, al-Fiqh al-Manhaji]
Ruling of Drugs in Sharia
The use of drugs in all forms is prohibited, regardless of the method of consumption or dealings, due to the harm they cause to the mind and body, similar to alcohol and other intoxicants. [al-Khin, al-Bugha, al-Sharbaji, al-Fiqh al-Manhaji]
Allah (Most High) says: “O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and drawing lots for decisions are all evil of Satan’s handiwork. So shun them so you may be successful.” [Quran, 5:90]
And He also says: “[He] permits for them what is lawful and forbids to them what is impure.” [Quran, 7:157]
Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “Do not harm or reciprocate harm.” [Ibn Maja, Malik, Daraqutni]
Umm Salama (Allah be pleased with her) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) prohibited every intoxicant and everything that debilitates.” [Abu Dawud]
The Role of the Family and Society
Our discussion now focuses on the role of the family, whether the addict is a son, daughter, brother, sister, husband, wife, relative, or otherwise. Other societal entities also have roles to play.
These are the most important rules and guidelines for dealing with drug addicts:
- Family support and acceptance in all situations: Assure the addict that their place in the family remains unchanged. Avoid violence, rejection, or expulsion from the home, as this could worsen the situation. Consider this condition as a medical one, treatable and controllable, with Allah’s permission.
- Calm dialogue with the addict: Identify the cause that led to addiction and address it promptly. The cause could be family problems, bad company, exposure to certain websites and movies, curiosity, etc.
- Preventing factors that facilitate access to drugs: Like idleness, association with bad company, providing money, and other causes leading to addiction or exacerbating it.
- Dealing with the issue confidentially: Only those involved or contributing to the treatment should be aware of the situation. This is important to prevent the spreading of such matters in the Muslim community, preserving the addict‘s reputation and image after future repentance and recovery.
- Reminding and advising the addict kindly: Inform them about the ruling of substance abuse, its dangers, and consequences on self, religion, morals, family, society, education, employment, etc., preparing them for accepting treatment and overcoming addiction.
- Seeking assistance from relevant authorities: This includes medical authorities and others. Those who care for the addict must strive to develop a rehabilitation plan for treatment and recovery with a firm commitment from the family or the addict themselves.
And Allah ultimately knows best.
Conclusion
We must treat addicts as patients requiring special care and attention, based on wisdom in dealing with them, cooperating with relevant authorities, and adhering to the appropriate treatment plan.
May Allah protect our youth and the youth of the Muslims from all evils and harm, and keep them away from bad people and evil by Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful. And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti
Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti is a Syrian scholar born in Aleppo in 1977. He obtained his degree in Shari‘a from the Shari‘a Faculty of Damascus University, a Diploma in Educational Qualification from the Faculty of Education at Aleppo University, and a Diploma in Shari‘a and a Master’s in Shari‘a from the Faculty of Sharia, and Law at Omdurman University in Sudan. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis.
He studied under esteemed scholars such as Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Mustafa al-Turkmani, and Shaykh Dr. Nur al-Din Itr, among others. Shaykh al-Yakti has worked in teaching and cultural guidance in orphanages and high schools in Aleppo. He served as an Imam, Khatib, and reciter at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and as a certified trainer for Khatibs in Abu Dhabi’s Khatib Qualification Program.
He is involved in developing and teaching a youth education program at Seekers Arabic for Islamic Sciences.
Among Shaykh al-Yaqti’s significant works are “Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni: Bayna Ilm al-Kalam Wa Usul al-Fiqh” and the program “The Messenger of Allah Among Us (Allah bless him and give him peace).”
