This excerpt is taken from Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi's book Halal and Haram in Islam, translated into Urdu by Muhammad Tahir Naqqash.
Intoxicants (Things that dull the mind)
Alcohol is prohibited in the Quran; it is important to understand what khamr (intoxicant) is.
الخمر ما خامر العقل
"Khamr is that which covers the mind."
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Drinks: Chapter on what has been said about khamr being that which covers the mind, Hadith 5588 - Muslim, Book of Interpretation: Chapter on the revelation of the prohibition of khamr, Hadith 3032
It is a brilliant statement which was also mentioned by Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) while delivering a sermon of the Prophet (peace be upon him) from the pulpit. This clarifies the meaning of khamr and leaves no room for doubt. Anything that covers the intellect and affects the faculty of discernment, the faculty of perception, and the faculty of decision-making is khamr (intoxicant), which Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) have declared forbidden until the Day of Judgment.
Drugs such as ganja, cocaine, opium, etc., are also of this kind. They affect the mind in such a way that distant things appear near and near things appear distant. One becomes oblivious to what is actually present and starts imagining things that are not actually there. Thus, one drifts in a sea of illusions and thoughts. To the extent that one forgets oneself, one’s religion, and one’s worldly affairs, wandering only in the valley of thoughts.
Moreover, it causes lethargy in the body, numbness in the nerves, and weakens health. Furthermore, it leads to low morale, moral degradation, weakness of will, and diminished consciousness. As a result, these poisonous substances become a cancer in the body of society for those addicted to them.
Besides all these harms, loss of wealth and destruction of homes are added. Sometimes, the addict spends even the money meant for feeding his wife and children on intoxication and sometimes resorts to other dishonorable means.
We have already explained the principle of Islam that forbidden things cause filth and harm, and it has become clear that from the perspective of health, as well as psychological, social, and economic aspects, these things are severely harmful, leaving no room for doubt. All the jurists who lived during the time when these substances appeared unanimously agreed on their prohibition. Leading among them is Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him).
He states:
This hashish (ganja) is forbidden whether it causes intoxication or not. It causes intoxication, and therefore only wicked people use it. Due to its nature, it is similar to intoxicating wine. Wine is a stimulant and arouses feelings of hostility and quarrels, while ganja causes lethargy in the mind and leads to humiliation. Moreover, it causes damage to the intellect and temperament, increases lust, and leads to shamelessness. Considering these harms, ganja is worse than intoxicating wine. Its use became common among people with the appearance of the Tatars. Whoever is found to have consumed ganja, whether in small or large amounts, should be punished with the hadd punishment for wine, i.e., eighty or forty lashes. The act of consuming ganja is equivalent to drinking wine, and in some respects, it is even worse. The one who uses it deserves the same punishment as a wine drinker. The rule of Shariah is that among the prohibited things, those that cause desire in the hearts, such as wine and adultery, are subject to hadd punishment, but those that do not cause desire, such as carrion, are subject to ta'zir (discretionary punishment). Ganja is so beloved to its users that they are not willing to give it up under any circumstances, even though the texts of the Book and Sunnah indicate its prohibition just as clearly as they indicate the prohibition of other types of wine.
Reference: Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah, vol. 4, p. 262 and Al-Siyasah al-Shar'iyyah
Whatever is harmful, its consumption is forbidden:
The general rule of Islamic Shariah is that it is not permissible for a Muslim to consume anything that immediately or gradually causes death. For example: all kinds of poison or any other harmful substance. Similarly, excessive eating and drinking is also not permissible if it results in illness due to overeating. A Muslim is not only responsible for his own self but also for his religion, his community, his life, his health, his wealth, and all the blessings of Allah entrusted to him; therefore, it is not permissible to waste them.
Allah Almighty says:
وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا انْفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيْمًا
"And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful."
Reference: (An-Nisa: 29)
And He said:
وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِايْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلَكَةِ
"And do not throw yourselves into destruction."
Reference: (Al-Baqarah: 195)
And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
لا ضرر ولا ضرار
"Harm is not permissible in any form."
Reference: Musnad Ahmad (1/313) Ibn Majah Kitab al-Ahkam, chapter: Whoever builds something harmful to his neighbor, Hadith 2341, 2340 narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas, Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with them)
According to this principle, we say that tobacco, besides being vile, is forbidden for two reasons if it proves harmful to the user. Especially when a doctor informs a particular person that tobacco use is harmful to him. Even if, hypothetically, tobacco were not harmful to health, it would still be a waste of wealth that has neither religious nor worldly benefit. The Hadith states:
نهى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم عن إضاعة المال
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade the wasting of wealth."
Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-Riqaq, chapter: What is disliked from sayings and speech, Hadith 6473 - Muslim, Kitab al-Aqdiyah, chapter: Prohibition of excessive questioning, Hadith 593/14
This prohibition becomes even more emphasized when a person is in need of spending on himself or his family.
