Quran Garden

Welcome back to our enlightening journey through the 16 major sins in Islam.  Many vices may lead to spiritual downfall in Islam.  Sadly, we can't overlook the pressing issue of rising drug abuse among today's Muslim youth.  Let's discuss this sin and more.                                                                     

Session 588

Chapter 4

Verse 31

a continuation

If you avoid the major sins you have been forbidden, We shall absolve you of your minor misdeeds and let you in through the entrance of honor.  (Chapter 4: Verse 31)

One of the major sins in Islam is the consumption of intoxicants.  Substances such as drugs and Alcohol cloud one's judgment and, at higher doses, may cause permanent damage.  But why does Islam consider them a grave sin?  We answer that Allah created you as His successor and caretaker on earth.  He honored you with intellect and thought, empowering you to rule your earthly kingdom wisely.  God does not want you to waste the gift of intelligence even for a short period of time.  Being drunk or high is not only a rejection of this divine gift but will surely lead to mismanaging the trust that has been placed in you.

Those who drink alcohol or abuse drugs often justify their actions by saying that they want to forget their problems.  But let's ask ourselves: does ignoring problems really make them disappear, or make them worse?  God wants you to tackle your worries using your greatest asset: your thoughtful mind.  Here you may ask:  How about problems and calamities beyond my control?  Issues that cannot be solved!?  We answer that in such matters, you should turn to Allah and rely on Him to manage what you cannot.  Relax your mind and leave things to the One always in control.  When our beloved Muhammad faced an overwhelming matter, he turned to prayer.  Why?  Because when means and causes fail you, you turn to the Lord of means and causes.  He says,

Who is it that answers the distressed when they call upon Him?  Who removes their suffering?  Who makes you successors in the earth?  Is it another god besides God?  Little notice you take! (27: 62)

God says,

You who believe, intoxicants and gambling, idolatrous practices, and divining with arrows are repugnant acts- Satan's doing- shun them so that you may prosper.  With intoxicants and gambling, Satan seeks only to incite enmity and hatred among you, and to stop you remembering God and prayer.  Will you not give them up?  (5:90-91)

It's important to note that God didn't specify any particular intoxicants.  The word "intoxicants" is translated from the Arabic "الْخَمْر" ‘Khamr’ which means to cover.  We use the word "خِمار" ‘Khemar’ for the Hijab or the covering of woman's hair.  Thus, the "خَمْر" intoxicant is a broad term that encompasses every substance that clouds and conceals the mind, from beer to cocaine, and all future drugs and Alcohols that may come along.  

Allah created you and subjected all things in existence to your will.  He protected your life by legislating against murder, protected your family by legislating against slander and adultery, and protected your wealth by legislating against usury.   Likewise, Allah protects you from yourself by legislating against substance abuse that impairs your judgment.  Human beings preserve their lives through the power of the mind, whereas animals rely on instinct.  When attacked, an animal has a singular response: a dog bites, a cat scratches.  In contrast, when a person is faced with a problem, he or she chooses between alternatives to respond to the aggression, whether to strike, kill, plot, or forgive.  But if you cloud your mind with a substance, your instincts are not equipped to save you, so you act like a fool and rank even lower than animals. 

We now move to the next major sin on our list.  Orphans are particularly vulnerable members of society; thus, God Almighty set specific laws to care for them and warns against the monstrous sin of consuming their wealth unjustly:

Those who consume the property of orphans unjustly are actually swallowing fire into their own bellies: they will burn in the blazing Flame.  (4:10)

And in another verse,

And give orphans their property, do not replace their good things with bad, and do not consume their property with your own- for doing that would be a great crime.

(4:2)

A young child understands that his father is the one caring and providing all that's beautiful in life, but what if the father passes away?  If a child observes a friend becoming neglected or impoverished after losing a parent, they might worry, "If my father dies, I'll be lost too."  Thus, it's crucial for the child to see a supportive community of faith stepping in to help.  Such a community would act as numerous caring parents, filling the void left by the loss of one.  So, when any youngster thinks about his own father's possible death, he would accept Allah's decree calmly.

Guarding the orphan's wealth is a significant responsibility.  Allah warns, "Do not replace their good things with bad."  A guardian might be tempted to take something valuable from the orphan's assets and replace it with something of lesser value.  For example, suppose the orphan's inheritance includes a nice car, and the guardian has an older model.  The guardian might take the nice car and replace it with the inferior one, claiming 'a car for a car,' or they might swap a milk-producing cow for a sick one or a fruitful palm tree for a barren one.

God further cautions: "And do not consume their property with your own," highlighting the importance of keeping the orphan's wealth separate from yours —separate accounts, separate deeds, separate vaults, and so on.  Doing otherwise would be a great crime.  God says,

And test the orphans until they reach marriageable age; then, if you sense they have sound judgment, hand over their property to them.  And do not consume it lavishly and hastily before they come of age.  (from 4:6)

If you are responsible for an orphan's wealth, you should hand over their entire inheritance as soon as they reach maturity, without delay.  Start early by involving the orphan in decision-making and observing how they handle various situations.  If they do well, you'll know they can manage their own finances responsibly upon reaching maturity.  You are essentially the custodian of their wealth, so never mix your money with theirs or swap their valuables for lesser items from your possessions.  As soon as the sound-minded orphan reaches the age of maturity and responsibility, the wealth is no longer yours or under your directive.  Till then, it is your duty to ensure the wealth is managed well as if it were your own.   

A troubling trend among those who knowingly earn their wealth unlawfully is to give to charities or build mosques to compensate for their actions and cleanse their wealth.  We answer that God is pure and does not accept that which is not pure.  So do not try to mask your ugly deeds by giving to charity or making the Hajj pilgrimage.  God is in no need of your worship and donations.  He wants you to be upright, respect the rights of others, and earn your money honestly.

May Allah protect us from such sins and protect the Muslim youth from the ills of society.  Join us next week as we near the conclusion of our miniseries about the major sins in Islam.