One of the basic teachings of the Islamic doctrine is based on a moderate and balanced outlook on life and its challenges.

1. Islamic Teachings on Battling Addictionandother Evils Desires
Medicine isalsocalleddrugsandisdesignedforthe bettermentof mankind,howeverthe wronguse of
somethingasgoodas evenmedicinecanbe dangerousanddevastatingforpeople.When all issaidand
done the mainpurpose of any medicine istoprovide the sickwithrelief,whetherfromphysical painor
mental stressorevenchronicillnessessuchasdiabetes.Butagain,atthe endof the day drugsare
merelychemicalsthathave differentchemical structuresthatcanaffectthe human bodyindifferent
ways.It isknownthat there are drugs that can change or derange the mindandbody of humanseven
aftertheyhave stoppedtakingthem.While drugswhere designedtoprovide relief fromillness,aswith
all things,itwas inhumannature to abuse thisgift.Todaythere are millionsof peoplearoundthe world
that are addictedtodrugsfor variousreasons.The mostcommonof these reasonsincludestressand
anxietyandthroughdrugscan temporarilymake the psychological painabsent;ithaslonglastingeffects
that can potentiallyruinlives.Mostdrugsthat are abuseddirectlyorindirectlyhave aneffectonthe
brain’srewardsystembygivingitscircuitsa boostwithdopamine. Dopamine isaneurotransmitter
presentinregionsof the brainthat regulate movement,emotion,cognition,motivation,andfeelingsof
pleasure.Whenthisentersthe brain,itcanchange how a personworksandthisleadsto compulsive
drug use.
Health Problemsfrom Drugs
Here are onlya handful of thingsthatdrugs can do to a person.
 Weakenthe immune system, increasingsusceptibilitytoinfections.
 Cause cardiovascularconditionsrangingfromabnormal heartrate toheartattacks. Injected
drugscan alsoleadto collapsedveinsandinfectionsof the bloodvesselsandheartvalves.
 Cause nausea,vomitingandabdominal pain.
 Cause the livertohave to work harder,possiblycausingsignificantdamage orliverfailure.
 All drugsof abuse - nicotine,cocaine,marijuana,and others- effectthe brain's"reward"circuit,
whichispart of the limbicsystem.
 Drugs hijackthis"reward"system, causingunusuallylarge amountsof dopamine tofloodthe
system.
 Thisfloodof dopamine iswhatcausesthe "high"or euphoriaassociatedwithdrugabuse.
 Paranoia,Aggressiveness,Hallucinations,Addiction,ImpairedJudgment,Impulsiveness,Lose of
Self-Control
IslamicVirtue ofModeration
One of the basicteachingsof the Islamicdoctrine isbasedona moderate andbalancedoutlookonlife
and itschallenges.Islamiswell aware thathumanshave desiresthatare bothgoodand evil.Humans
strive tofulfill these desiresandwhereasIslamprovideswaysformankindtofulfilltheirgooddesires,it
alsoprohibitsmankindfromexcessivenessand indulgingintowhathasbeenprohibited.
Allah(SWT) saysinSurah Al-Araf inverse 31; “O children of Adam,takeyouradornmentatevery masjid,
and eat and drink,butbe notexcessive.Indeed,He likes not thosewho commitexcess.”

2. The soul commanding to evil grips the individual in a state of forgetfulness. Addiction, and indeed, all
human infractions stem from such a state, where the human being is heedless of the purpose of life,
heedlessof theCreator,and of the Day when all human beingswill be held accountable for their actions.
It is this state of forgetfulness that the individual must strive to overcome, and work progressively
towards a state of awareness.
Allah(SWT) saysinSurah Al-Hashrinverse 19; “And be notlike thosewho forgotAllah, so He madethem
forgetthemselves.Thosearethe defiantly disobedient.”
Islam’s Prohibitions– A GreatBlessing
Altaf Husain,a social workerinthe US, writesinan article onwaysto overcome addiction:
“No one becomesaddicted intentionally;it is not a goalonesets outto accomplish.Addiction is
ultimately thetriumph of the soul commanding to evilover the self-reproaching soul.Whatbeginsasjust
onequick glanceat a pornographicWeb site, one sip of alcohol,one‘snort’of cocaine,oneinjection of
heroin,or even one session of aggressiveovereating doesnotaffectevery individualthesameway.For
thosewho havea weakrelationship withAllah,are on the marginsof daily worship,arekeeping
company withsimilarly heedlessindividuals,theoneglance, theone sip leadsthem,ultimately,down a
slippery slope fromwhich they will have,potentially,a lifelong strugglerecovering.”
“Islamrecognizesthe perils of such self-destructivebehavior.Whileprescribing permissible waysof
fulfilling certain legitimate desires,Islamclearly drawsthe line around certain typesof behaviorand
strikes themat the root. Consequently,alcohol,drug consumption and gambling arestrictly prohibited,
even in small quantities.”
Prayer and Fasting – Strengtheningthe Soul with Patience
While everypillarof Islamservestostrengthenthe soul,the five dailyprayersandthe fastingduringthe
holymonthof Ramadan are especiallybeneficial indiscipliningthe soul.
The Holy Quransays;
“Recite, [O Muhammad],whathasbeen revealed to you of theBookand establish prayer.Indeed,prayer
prohibitsimmoralityand wrongdoing,and theremembranceof Allah is greater.And Allah knowsthat
which you do.”
(QuranSurah Al-AnkabutAyah29:45)
Fastingisuniversallyrecognizedasameansof gainingself-control,andinIslam, alsoameansof gaining
closenesstoGod.
“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you asit wasprescribed to thosebeforeyou,thatye may
(learn) self-restraint,”
(QuranSurah Al-BaqarahAyah2:183)

3. Prayerand fastingare therefore likethe shieldsof the humansoul,bywhichitcan protectitself from
the onslaughtsof moderntemptations,andleadahealthy,balancedandproductive life.
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