The ruling regarding alcohol and drugs in Islam is established on a general, encompassing principle: any beverage or substance that intoxicates is unlawful (Haram), regardless of the quantity consumed or the name it is given. Whether the substance is alcohol, fermented drinks, or narcotics, the prohibition remains absolute if the effect is intoxication.
The Definition of Khamr (Intoxicants)
Prominent scholars explain that the Prophetic declaration regarding prohibited substances was not limited to wine (Khamr) made from grapes. Rather, the definition extends to any substance that intoxicates.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) established this comprehensive rule when asked about drinks made from fermented honey, corn, or barley. He succinctly replied:
Every intoxicant is Khamr, and every Khamr is Haram.” (Sahih Muslim)
Furthermore, the Companion `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) declared from the pulpit of the Prophet:
Khamr is that which befogs the mind.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
This statement provides a decisive criterion. Any substance that befogs the mind, clouds the intellect, or impairs the faculties of thought, perception, and discernment falls under the prohibition decreed by Allah and His Messenger.
The Prohibition of Small Quantities
Islam takes an uncompromising stand on intoxicants, forbidding them completely—whether the amount consumed is large or small. The wisdom behind this strictness is to prevent the first step toward addiction; if an individual is permitted a single step, subsequent steps often follow until they are running toward destruction.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) addressed the question of quantity clearly:
“Of that which intoxicates in a large amount, a small amount is Haram.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi and Sunan Abi Dawud)
And in another narration:
“If a bucketful intoxicates, a sip of it is Haram.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi and Sunan Abi Dawud)
The Ruling on Drugs and Narcotics
Based on the definition that “Khamr is what befogs the mind,” drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, opium, and similar substances are definitively included in the prohibited category.
The use of these drugs affects sensory perception, creating illusions where the near seems distant and the imaginary appears real. Beyond the psychological escape from reality, these substances impair reasoning and decision-making. The physical effects include bodily lassitude, dullness of the nerves, and a decline in overall health.
Moral and social consequences are equally severe. Drug addiction weakens will power, leads to the neglect of responsibilities, and can result in the destruction of the family unit. Since obtaining drugs often requires significant funds, addiction strains financial resources and may tempt individuals toward illegal means to sustain the habit. Based on the Islamic principle that all impure and harmful things are prohibited, there is no doubt regarding the prohibition of substances that cause such physical, psychological, and social harm.
Scholarly Consensus on Hashish
Muslim jurists have been unanimous regarding the prohibition of intoxicants found in their respective times. Renowned classical scholars issued specific fatwas regarding hashish (solid grass), declaring it Haram whether or not it produces the same type of intoxication as liquid wine.
Scholars noted that while wine may make a drinker active or quarrelsome, hashish produces dullness and lethargy. Furthermore, it disturbs the temperament and can heighten desires, leading to immorality. Some scholars argued that the evils caused by such drugs are greater than those caused by drinking alone.
