addiction

Wa/Salam Brother,

I was reading the post about marijuana on this forum and trust me - I DO NOT WANT TO START THAT TOPIC AGAIN.  However, it did get me starting to think about the view on addiction.  

This topic as well as others can be a sensitive one, I have experienced this too, however not in this forum or any other forum, but speaking to people (Muslims) face-to-face.

An argument commonly used was that any action, substance or thought that was habit forming or addicting is haram.  

I agree to this comment you made 'above' however, you have to think within a reasonable context as a human being.  Asking oneself, is it harming me? is it harming others??  If you answer is no, then you are more than likely not doing haram (but then again brother, this is only my point of view).

This makes perfect sense to me when I think about drug addiction and alcoholism, but then I started to think:  "How many times have a played minesweeper today?  Perhaps I am addicted."

Are you getting annoying headaches?  Noises in your head??  Are you starting to act aggressively - biting your nails etc...??  If you are noticing abnormal behaviour, then maybe you are addicted and need to find another hobby.

I know this sounds funny but where can the line be drawn on addiction?  I know that when I start a family I will be addicted to spending times with my children, as my parents felt about me.  I know that depending on the individual, addiction to anything is possible so the line must be drawn somewhere.

I believe brother, the line's drawn where you want it to be drawn... if you are as concerned as I feel you are about - for e.g. your minesweaper game, then, it's time you find another hobby, maybe this can be something more rewarding for your after-life such as - reading Qur'an, or praying more (please take note however, I am in no way/shape or form trying to judge you and saying you do not already observe all these things enough).

I have no conlusion to my post, which is why I posted here so I guess I will end this post with ellipses.

My conclusion is you just keep speaking out, and posting your comments.. because it's interesting as a Muslim to see other peoples' point of view!

Please write back and tell me if what I am saying makes any sense at all...

 

 

 

 

 

 

I understand that minesweeper is very useless, but i couldn't think of a better example at the time. now that i have been sitting on it for a while i consider people that are obsessed witht their grades or schooling as addicted. but there is a greater good that can come from this so i know that it is understood that this is not a big deal.

however the addiction of coffee or caffeine is not so clear cut. i do not think that addiction to coffee or tea is a bad thing but it is true that it could harm you.  does this make it haram or does this just make it a thing that really doesnt matter?  Id like to think that not everything is halal or haram, but that a third category of things people shouldn't even waste their tiem with discussing.

lately i have been concerned with the amount of time mispent by many muslims that leaves important issues that could easily be addressed up in the air.

i think smoking marjuana is stupid especially if ur a muslim and i cant stand the smell either

Anything that is used in such a way in that it does more harm than good is a sin. There are lots of drugs that don't do this. Though any drug, can be used in such a way that it does, even aspirin, or chocolate. Addiction is not such a bad thing as long as it doesnt hurt you more than help in the long run, which it usually does. Not always though. Caffeine, morphine, marijuana (sorry, but its just one detail), and most benzodizaepines are like this. Most of the time, people don't get addicted in a way that it harms. Marijuana and caffeine, has a low addictability rate in the first place.

So i'd say the general rule is more harm than good, then leave it. This includes how it influences your belief in Islam. Marijuana, caffine, heroin, opium, cocaine, even alcohol (some times not always) dont change this most of the time are usually. It is very unusual for a responsible user of any of these changes in such a way, even alcohol if used responsibly, though with alcohol when not it usually leads to the contrary, while with others even unresponisbly it usually doesnt affect.

Edited by ZubairH