Addiction and Islam – The Disease and its Cure!!!!!!

Self Development:
We live in a culture in which mass advertising glorifies excessive consumption a
nd the near instant gratification of desires. “Having it now” unfortunately, proves
to be a slippery slope for millions, and uninhibited desires prove to be like an
uncontrollable fire, growing stronger each time they are fed. Some desires beco
mes overriding compulsions that could take years to overcome, if at all. The wor
d addiction is often used to describe such a condition.
What exactly is addiction? The term "addiction" is used in many contexts to desc
ribe an obsession, compulsion, or excessive physical dependence or psychological
dependence, such as: drug addiction, alcoholism, compulsive overeating, problem
gambling, computer addiction, etc. In other words, addiction has many forms, so
me of them related to substances such as drugs or alcohol, while others are rela
ted to extreme psychological dependence of the individual on behaviors such as g
ambling, overeating, and increasingly internet surfing.
Nearly 14 million Americans meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders
Estimates of the economic costs of just alcohol abuse, collected by the World He
alth Organization, vary from one to six per cent of a country's GDP . Countries
around the world spend hundreds of billions of dollars in combating the drug tra
de, rehabilitating drug addicts and in dealing with the health and social costs
of the increased use of narcotics by young people and teenagers. Addiction to po
rnography is afflicting millions in every age group around the world, leading to
decreased productivity, and an increase in crimes against women and children.
The fact that addictions of various types have grown into enormous social proble
ms that are threatening not only individuals and families but entire societies i
s clear. Addictions in fact, are the scourge of the human civilization, and the
urgency of making a global effort to eradicate them is more critical than ever.
Efforts So far
Countries around the world have tried hard to control if not eradicate various a
ddictions in their societies. Although millions have freed themselves from the s
lavery of their base instincts, millions more continue to fall into this abyss.
The number of addicted individuals, both in real terms and as a percentage of th
e total population, has skyrocketed in recent times.
Let us explore how Islam views the problem, and how its prescriptions and world-
view might be an antidote.
Moderation – An Islamic Virtue
One of the salient features of the Islamic world-view is a balanced and moderate
outlook on life and its challenges. Islam recognizes that human beings have nat
ural desires, and prescribes ways of fulfilling these desires without allowing t
he desires to take control of one’s life. The Glorious Qur’an says:
“O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer
: eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters.” [Al-Q
ur’an 7:31]
The Islamic virtue of moderation is prescribed at both an individual and at a co
llective level. Islam views the natural resources of the world, and indeed human
life itself, as a trust from God. Accordingly, every individual is accountable
for how he or she spends these resources. Profligacy is considered a major sin i
n Islam.
Islam’s View of the Self
Islam’s broader approach towards human life is through the recognition of the huma
n soul as being composed of essentially three elements:
Nafs al-Ammarah (soul commanding to evil or evil-inciting soul)
Nafs al-Lawwamah (self-reproaching soul)
Nafs al-Mutma’innah (tranquil, peaceful soul)
The goal of every Muslim is to be aware of the stage of his or her own soul, and
to strive to reach the stage of tranquility and peace that can only come about
through a disciplined life in obedience to God.
The soul commanding to evil grips the individual in a state of forgetfulness. Ad
diction, and indeed, all human infractions stem from such a state, where the hum
an being is heedless of the purpose of life, heedless of the Creator, and of the
Day when all human beings will be held accountable for their actions. It is thi
s state of forgetfulness that the individual must strive to overcome, and work p
rogressively towards a state of awareness. The Glorious Qur’an says:
"And be ye not like those who forgot Allah, and He made them forget their own so
uls! Such are the rebellious transgressors!" [Al-Qur’an 59:19]
In overcoming addiction therefore, one is required to shun heedlessness and feel
remorse for having allowed one’s soul to be controlled by one’s lower desires.
For others who, although self-aware to some extent, do succumb momentarily to th
e evil-inciting soul, the remembrance of the Divine and His commandments are oft
en sufficient to restore the balance and quickly exit the state of heedlessness.
For those who, while fulfilling the necessities of human life, are firmly rooted
in achieving success in the hereafter, the temptations of a transgression only
serve to spur them on in their spiritual pursuits
Islam’s Prohibitions – A Great Blessing
Altaf Husain, a social worker in the US, writes in an article on ways to overcom
e addiction:
"No one becomes addicted intentionally; it is not a goal one sets out to accompl
ish. Addiction is ultimately the triumph of the soul commanding to evil over the
self-reproaching soul. What begins as just one quick glance at a pornographic W
eb site, one sip of alcohol, one snort of cocaine, one injection of heroin, or e
ven one session of aggressive overeating does not affect every individual the sa
me way. For those who have a weak relationship with Allah, are on the margins of
daily worship, are keeping company with similarly heedless individuals, the one
glance, the one sip leads them, ultimately, down a slippery slope from which th
ey will have, potentially, a lifelong struggle recovering."
Islam recognizes the perils of such self-destructive behavior. While prescribing
permissible ways of fulfilling certain legitimate desires, Islam clearly draws
the line around certains types of behavior and strikes them at the root.
Consequently, alcohol, drug consumption and gambling are strictly prohibited, ev
en in small quantities. The Glorious Qur’an says:
"O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divina
tion by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan s handwork: eschew such (abominat
ion), that ye may prosper." [Al-Qur’an 7:31]
In the last five decades, pornography has been the cause of many a broken home,
and multitudes of destroyed lives. By enjoining men and women towards modesty, t
he Glorious Qur’an protects the dignity of the human being. The Qur’an says:
"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their mode
sty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted wi
th all that they do.
And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their
modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (m
ust ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bos
oms…" [Al-Qur’an 24:30-31]
Islam recommends marriage for the fulfillment of natural desires and for procrea
tion, but prohibits the depiction of any human being as merely an object of sexu
al gratification. Notice how the Qur’an elevates the status of both men and women
by recognizing their nature, while also drawing their attention towards a higher
purpose in life.
When one reflects on the havoc caused by alcohol and drug addiction, by compulsi
ve gambling and by rampant pornography, one can only see the prohibitions and in
junctions of Islam as great blessings to the human race. The divine prohibitions
ensure that even if one does not see the wisdom behind abstaining from these ev
ils, one is guarded by adhering to certain norms in a spiritual frame of referen
ce.
Prayer and Fasting – Strenghthening the Soul with Patience
While every pillar of Islam serves to strengthen the soul, the five daily prayer
s and the fasting during the holy month of Ramadan are especially beneficial in
disciplining the soul.
The Glorious Qur’an says;
"Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular P
rayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of A
llah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds)
that ye do." [Al-Qur’an 29:45]
Fasting is universally recognized as a means of gaining self-control, and in Isl
am, also a means of gaining closeness to God.
"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those be
fore you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,”- [Al-Qur’an 2:183]
Prayer and fasting are therefore like the shields of the human soul, by which it
can protect itself from the onslaughts of modern temptations, and lead a health
y, balanced and productive life.
Conclusion
To strike at the roots of addiction, a holistic view of the human soul is essent
ial. Islam provides both a world-view and a spiritual system that elevates the h
uman being by empowering the soul to fulfill the Divine Mission. Besides prohibi
ting behaviors that might demean the human soul in any way, Islam prescribes pra
ctical ways of strengthening it.
For the soul that values the sweetness of Divine Remembrance, capitulating to th
e base desires represents disobedience to the Creator as well as oppression agai
nst the self. It is through recognition of the purpose of creation can the soul
achieve true freedom.