In an attempt to follow up the burning issues of modern societies, I picked up an article in the "Globe and Mail" of Canada (September 7,1989) issue. It was under the caption "What if illegal drugs were made legal?". I held the pen and wrote a counter article which I called "Legalizing drugs will add fuel to fire". Although I sent the article to the "Globe and Mail", I was not aware whether it was published or not. Hence, this brochure is in order to share with as many people as possible what I feel to be the Islamic solution for drug addiction.

I was indeed infuriated by that article which suggested legalizing drugs as one solution to end this age-old problem. The reason behind my anger was not because I am a drug trafficker or consumer. On the contrary, as a committed Muslim I am whole-heartily in favour of a successful campaign against drug addiction as well as drug trafficking. The difference is only in method and approach. It is, no doubt, a great difference, which I would like to share with other well wishers of a better North America or more correctly for a better humanity. This is simply because we are living in a small world where anything good or bad that takes place in one end of it immediately takes place in the other.

On the other hand, going back to the American scene we hear Americans from time to time admitting that America's advancement has only been possible and could be achieved through collective contributions from various cultures and civilizations. This is actually true and is applicable particularly to the major cultures of the world. Thus when the first American astronaut set foot on the moon the same acknowledgment was confirmed admitting indebtedness to all humanity. This indeed a healthy sign.

In the same spirit then why don't we also share ideas to find a conclusive solution for one of the major problems of America as well as of the world at large?

To begin with, in my humble opinion as a Muslim who is residing in America, I believe that the treatment of this fearful ailment should be from within rather that from the outside. In other words, it should not be forced by the government only but the core of the problem should be treated first. As long as the core is rotten what is the use of treating the shell or the surface only? The efforts should act first from within.

In the light of the above, let us ask ourselves the following question:why and when do people resort to drugs? Statistics show a common factor namely that there are several problems that face people, which they think to be insurmountable. They imagine, in other words, that drugs provide them with a satisfactory escape from their problems. It is in this spirit that taking drugs in many cases start. Thus, in order for us to treat drug addiction, we have first to try to solve those persisting problems. This is only the first step towards complete rehabilitation.

It may be asked here: what other more important measures should be taken in order to fulfil our target? As a matter of fact, what is more important than just solving the immediate problems is education and raising the moral standards of those infected with addiction. Again in my point of view, the basis of education and morals should be commitment to religion; for there is no really solid basis for morals without religion.

But how does Islam prevent the problem of drug addiction before it actually takes place? Islam, in fact, gives both hope and commitment to the believing Muslim. A drug addict is a hopeless victim. He or she does not have any goal in life. Islam, however, always gives hope to the most wretched persons. Let us contemplate the following verse: "say my servants who have transgressed against their sould, despair not of the mercy of God; for God forgives all sins; for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."(53/39)

In this verse Islam provides hope. It is, in fact, a message of hope. I remember once how a hopeless drug addict wanted to commit suicide. She had a committed Muslim neighbor who came to visit her and conveyed to her this message of hope. This worked like wonders and the woman asked more questions about the Quran and Islam until she embraced it and that was her way out of that inferno.

Islam in fact came to Arabia at a time when wine was consumed by the great majority of the Arabs. They loved wine more than anything else. What did Islam do not ban wine and stop it? It did not issue a drastic order and stopped it once for all. On the contrary, it applied a gradual process of four steps the final one of which was the prohibition command, which acted like magic. People immediately responded and accepted this prohibition so much so that we can safely say that this was one of the first laws in the world that witnessed collective implementation.

People could not believe their own eyes. All of a sudden, the once most beloved drink of Arabia became the most avoidable abhorred drink of all. Islam succeeded when all similar both earlier and later attempts failed. Why don't people today use the Islamic solution to ban drugs? It is the most successful method. What is needed is to change people from within, to make them God fearing, God conscious and make them feel that they are obeying God by boycotting this evil. This is the decisive role Islam can play to save humanity from drug addiction.

Some people may ask: but why Islam in particular? Why don't we follow any other religion and not necessarily Islam? This is simply because other religions have no say in the solution. They even encourage taking wine. So how can they solve the problem.

Let us come closer and contemplate the Quranic verses that provided the gradual solution of wine addiction which is to this day a unique achievement of Islam in the history of humanity.

In the first place the Quran implied that wine is not a good drink when it said: And from the fruit of the date palm and the vine you get out intoxicant drink and wholesome food (67-16). Thus the Quran frowned on intoxicants which it indicated not to be wholesome things to consume.

Then the Quran took a second step when it conveyed the following message: They ask yuo about wine and gambling, say in them is great sin and some profit for men; but the sin is greater than the profit (219-2).

Establishing this the Quran then commanded the believers not to approach prayer while they aer intoxicated. It said: O you who believe! Approach not prayer with a mind befogged, so that you can understand what you say (43-4).

Finally came the conclusive command when the Quran declared: O you who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, dedication of stones and divination by arrows are an abomination of Satan's handiwork. So eschew it all so that you may prosper. Satan's plan is to excite enmity and hatred amony you, with intoxicants and gambling and hinder you from the remembrance of God and from prayer. Will you not, then, abstain (90-5).