Inquiries on the Science of the Objectives of Sharia (Part 40)
3. Preserving Intellect
Human intellect is one of the greatest blessings of Allah and is recognized as the basis of duty in the Sharia. For this reason, the Sharia has established positive measures to protect it and prevent harmful factors.
A: The Concept of Preserving Intellect
Allah Almighty created man and distinguished him from other creatures by granting him great dignity and privileges. Among the most important of these privileges are intellect and understanding, which give man the ability to worship his Lord and actively participate in the improvement of his society.
Allah Almighty has addressed the intelligent and obligated them to perform great duties that benefit themselves and their society. Intellect prevents man from committing obscene speech and actions and is a blessing that Allah has bestowed only on man, distinguishing him from other living beings.
Intellect is the center of duty in the Sharia. As Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated from the Prophet (PBUH): “The duty has been lifted from three groups: from the one who is asleep until he wakes up, from the insane until he regains his sanity, and from the child until he becomes an adult.”
The intellect must be guided by divine revelation; otherwise, it may be led astray. Allah, the Exalted, was aware of the inability of the human intellect to chart the right path in life. Therefore, divine wisdom and mercy required that He send prophets to guide mankind and hold humans accountable only after the divine message is conveyed.
Without divine revelation, intellect alone cannot correctly distinguish between benefit and harm. Just as the eye cannot see without light, reason cannot distinguish correctly without the light of revelation. Therefore, whenever intellect and narration come together in religious matters, reason must be subordinate to narration, like a subject and an object. Islamic law has also determined the field of rational thought based on the guidance of narration.
Islamic law has forbidden the use of all kinds of drugs and intoxicants to protect the intellect. Additionally, to strengthen and develop the intellect, Islamic law has considered the acquisition of knowledge and human virtues obligatory upon every Muslim so that the human intellect always remains on the right path.
B: Means of Preserving the Intellect
Preserving the intellect is one of the essential objectives of Islamic law, for which numerous divine commands have been legislated.
1. Prohibition of Anything that Causes Mental Disorder
Allah Almighty has prohibited anything that causes mental disorder, including intoxicants and narcotics. He has also prescribed severe and exemplary punishments for the consumers, promoters, and importers of these substances into Islamic countries.
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an: «يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالأَنصَابُ وَالأَزْلاَمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاءَ فِي الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللّهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلاَةِ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ» Translation: “O you who believe! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and arrows (tools of fortune-telling) are an abomination and are the work of Satan. So, avoid them so that you may prosper. Satan only wants to cause enmity and hatred between you through intoxicants and gambling and to prevent you from the remembrance of Allah and prayer. So will you abstain?”
This verse is the last and final ruling on the prohibition of intoxicants. Imam Qurtubi says: “Undoubtedly, Surah Al-Ma’idah is a Madani Surah and is explicit in prohibiting wine.”
Islam has emphasized the prohibition of intoxicants due to the importance of intellect and its role in shaping the character of Muslims. The goal of Islamic law is to create a strong character physically, spiritually, and intellectually. Intoxicants not only weaken the foundations of intellect but also weaken a person’s personality and turn him into a dangerous and corrupt individual.
When intellect is lost, a person becomes helpless and dangerous, committing corruption, murder, rape, deceit, and betrayal. This evil and corruption harm not only himself but also those around him and society.
It was narrated from Abdullah ibn Abbas and Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Wine is the mother of all abominations and the greatest of all major sins. Whoever drinks wine abandons prayer and (in a state of intoxication) may have intercourse with his mother, aunt, and paternal aunt.”
Wine destroys intellect, so that a drunk person cannot distinguish between a mahram and a non-mahram. For this reason, Islamic law has called wine “Umm al-Khaba’ith” (the mother of abominations).
By emphasizing the prohibition of wine, Islamic law has cursed anyone who has any connection with it. Ibn Umar, MAPH, narrated from the Prophet (PBUH): “Every intoxicant is wine, and every wine is forbidden.” This emphasis shows the importance of intellect and the necessity of preserving it in the intellectual and moral system of Islam.
Jabir (MAPH) narrated that a man from the tribe of Jaishan in Yemen came to the Prophet (PBUH) and asked him about a wine that was made from the grapevine in their land and was called “Marz.” The Prophet (PBUH) asked: “Is it intoxicating?” The man replied: “Yes.” The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “All intoxicants are forbidden. Indeed, Allah has made a covenant with whoever drinks intoxicants that He will give him to drink from the Tainat al-Khabal.” The companions asked: “O Messenger of Allah, what is Tainat al-Khabal?” He said: “The sweat of the people of Hell or their pus and secretions.”
Anas (MAPH) narrated that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: “Ten people are cursed regarding wine: the one who presses it, the one who orders it, the one who drinks it, the one who carries it, the one for whom it is carried, the one who sells it, the one who consumes its price, the one who buys it, and the one who buys it for someone else.”
Abdullah ibn Umar (MAPH) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Whoever drinks wine in this world and does not repent from it will be deprived of the drinks of Paradise in the Hereafter.”
These texts clearly prove the prohibition of wine and all types of intoxicants. Substances known as narcotics in the present era, such as hashish, opium, heroin, and the like, are also forbidden by the same analogy.
Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) writes in his book “Rawzah”: “Anything other than drinks that destroys the mind, such as marijuana, is forbidden.”
The scholars of the Ummah are unanimous that all intoxicants, whether herbal or otherwise, are forbidden. Allama Zarkashi writes in his book “Zahr al-Arish”: “Our jurists and other schools of thought are unanimous in the prohibition of intoxicants, which includes herbs and other similar substances.”
The prohibition of narcotics has been proven based on the Book of Allah (the Quran), the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (the Hadith), the consensus of the Ummah, and analogy. Medical science has also clearly confirmed the harms of narcotics on physical and mental health. Scientific research has shown that the use of these substances can lead to madness, death, and physical and mental illnesses.
Islamic doctors and scholars have examined and confirmed these harms. They, like Allama Zarkashi and other great scholars, have emphasized the prohibition and sanctity of these substances. This sanctity is of great importance not only because of their individual consequences but also because of their social and moral harms.
In short, alcohol and other drugs are, without a doubt, forbidden and are the founders of all kinds of sedition and corruption in societies.
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