Step by step brother,step by step;just concentrate on the knowledge of Islam...just leave it to time...keep on reading...

this thread needs to be supported...please!

brother,
 ask the help of Allah because He is the only one who is capable .

make salat early in the morning (before dawn) and ask him from yuor heart he never disappionts a true believer.

hi Jazz,

please read in this site, and you may see what you are looking for 

http://www.islamdefenders.com/arguments/arguments_muhammad.htm - http://www.islamdefenders.com/arguments/arguments_muhammad.h tm

As Salamu Alaikum

Dear Br. ray, stay steadfast in your faith, even if Satan (Shaitan)  does tempt you with "the bottle."  This is but a test of your faith, as the Lord (Allah, s.w.t) tested Job (i.e., the Prophet Ayub, may Allah be pleased with him .)  I know from experience what you are going through -- I had the same alcohol problem as well.  You see, some of us do have a natural fondness for that substance (there are whole families who have the 'curse'), some have natural fondness for other things (including some practices that are unquestionably haram), that doesn't mean we are sinners as such but rather that we have to work just a little harder to keep Shaitan  from pushing our 'buttons.'  But Allah (s.w.t) will help you in this regard .  As you start to practice Islam more and more, and to learn more about it, and believe the teachings received by Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to be true, your eyes will be opened (by Allah, s.w.t.) to the destructive and sinful nature of alcoholism -- until you yourself will want to quit of your own free will.  That is what happened to me.  I didn't drink until 'dead drunk' either, but I did get drunk and alhamdulillah  (as I became firmer in my belief in Islam) I found out, more and more, how even getting a little drunk sets one up for a whole host of evils.  Even the places where you used to hang out to drink, you will find, are inhabited by enemies you never realized you had (until Allah, subhana wa t'ala, opened your eyes .)  You will begin to realize how impoverished you are from spending money on alcohol and even that you can no longer physically tolerate it like you used to .  All of this may sound extreme but truly, if Allah (s.w.t) helps my recollection, this was my experience quitting alcohol.  Although this only happened for me a couple of weeks ago (in a process that stretched out over months and months of wavering), insha'allah I will not go back.  So, brother, stay on the path -- even if other things seemingly start to 'go wrong,' remember the Prophet Ayub and Sura "Ad-Duha" 93, ayat 4: "What is to come for you is better than what has gone before."  Alcohol is a poison and so Allah (s.w.t.) forbade us from consuming it.  He is truly merciful and kind .  If there are any errors in this post regarding Islam, due to my newness to the faith, I ask forgiveness from Allah (s.w.t.) regarding them -- for truly only Allah (s.w.t.) is perfect.

Subhan'allah and Peace

to the Moderator:

As Salaamu Alaikum,

I was a bit outraged at the previous post, and I said a few angry words.  You were entirely justified in deleting both of them.  And Allah (s.w.t) knows best.

Peace

Sister Evanescence, Salaam!!!

My previous message was referring to the deleted posts -- not to yours!!!  You've offended no one!!!  Truly, only Allah (s.w.t) is perfect ... (I'm sure not -- that's for sure.)  Anyways, in regards to your struggle, I was once in the same situation and I do support you (I only hope this time this post arrives at the right time and place.)  I truly am sorry for the mix-up. 

Peace

In understanding what the problem is specifically you will be better equipped to tackle it. 

Both of you should understand that what you are trying to change is a habit.  Habits are things that you have done frequently enough that you have stopped thinking about what and or why you are doing it.

I would suggest picking up a self help book on changing your habits.  Drinking is very similar to smoking in that they both are social drugs and they are accepted by society.  Your friends drink when they go out?  So don't go out.  Keep your friends but go places where you will not be tempted to drink especially with the peer pressure.

Know that drinking is unhealthy.  Alcohol is a poison.  It damages your liver and if enough is drank it could lead to alcohol poisoning and liver disease.

Drinking does not answer anything.  Were your problems solved after you drank and the temporary "buzz" had passed.  Probably not.  Alcohol is like a door that you willing open or not that leads a lot of negative possible outcomes: health reasons, accidents, fights, saying something you did not mean, etc. 

Know that alcohol is keeping you back and slowing you down.  Life gets stressful sometimes yes, but you have become dependent on the drink to get you through.  In other words, you do not depend on yourself but on some drink that you pay for and some Non-Muslim, probably, bad intentioned brewer puts your money in his pocket. 

i would advise you to get active with your local Islamic Center which you can look up online or in phone book.  If there are none, then join a sports team or non profit group and feed the poor.  Get active, get busy and build up your iman (faith).  You, your family, your husband will enjoy each other more when alcohol is out of your lives believe me.  You can drink everyday for the rest of your life and wake up after you have no more money left to buy more and realize that nothing is different.  You still have the same problems and more likely than not you have many more.

On lighter note, you are not the first person to have to stop drinking.  In the time of Prophet (pbuh) when he first started preaching most of the early Muslims drank, excluding Prophet (pbuh) of course.  Remember Prophet (pbuh) came to us to change our character.  He knew it wasn't going to happen overnight so why should you.  Allah (swt) is Most Merciful.  If you take one step to Allah (swt), He will run to you.  Build your character and iman by starting to pray and get closer to God and yourself.  Who are you really and what is important now? 

Early Muslims used to actually come to pray drunk.  And some Muslims who did not went to Prophet (pbuh) and said oh Propher why allow them to drink.  Prophet said that they were not ready and if he forced them to they would abandon their Islam and that was more important than the alcohol.  Not long after, when the believers routinely prayed.  prophet (pbuh) decreed that God forbids the drinking of alcohol and that Muslim who drank would not go to Paradise but to the Hellfire.  On that very day, the streets ran red with hundreds of gallons of wine and alcohol.

I know you can conquer this, just do not think so much and have courage for Allah knows best.

Wasalam

JAwad

""even one sipped means that I must be an unbeliever. ""

who in the world told you so ?!!!!!!

Hey man we all sin , take it easy and take small but firm steps to Allah

Salam

Here is an article on alcohol

http://alcohol.rationalreality.com - http://alcohol.rationalreality.com

Hope it helps.

Assalamu alaikum br. ray045,

A week - congratulations!  The first step is often the hardest.  I pray Allah grants you courage and strength to keep on the straight path.

As for the misguided brother, it may be best to ignore such ignorance, or, you might ask him politely to back up his claim with proof from Qur'an and Sunnah - of course, he will not be able to .

Peace, ummziba.

Assalamu Alykum brother Ray045

Please know that all kinds of alcoholic drinks are haram and believers should strictly guard themselves against that which is haram. Allah has commanded us to avoid such things so that we may be successful. Allah says in the Holy Quran (interpretation of the meaning):      

 A person cant pray when he /she is  drunk but one  has to pray. Pray helps  one get rid of sin and bad habbits eventually

please read why do we pray http://www.shariahway.com/pray - http://www.shariahway.com/pray

To those of you who drink and want to give it up - when do you drink? In what situations do you drink? When you are doing nothing, or when you are out with friends?

Maybe you need to keep yourselves busier? Or maybe you need to be _less_ busy? Maybe you could take up some sort of active hobby. Or a _less_ active hobby, like yoga or meditation.  :)

I think the goal of "I will stop drinking" is a difficult one. You may need to change your lifestyle somewhat in order to support your aim.

I know when I took up rowing years ago, the amount of drinking I did absolutely plummeted - you can't drink and row!

Then I got my driver's licence - you can't drink and drive, either! 

It might help if you take up some sort of fitness regime - no one can criticize you for not drinking 'cos it's "fattening"!   That way, you will be busy, you will feel great AND you will find it easier to avoid the Demon Drink.

Good luck!

Kim...

bismillah

salaams

dear bro & sist pay attention  to these words

there is nothing called "strong-willpower" but there is great desire and less desire so when you wish to get rid of something (act)  bad remmebr all its bad sides after that you will find no desire to do it instead the desire to remove it ...and it is clear .. when you wish to do something good but (heavy) and you feel lazy remmeber or let me say memorize all its benefits ..this mean you will stop for awhile to think ..you will get use of this new habbit .. and you will enjoy controlling yrself this is the first steps in the journy from slavery of "I" to the honorable slavery for ALLLAH (swt).. and pls excuse my bad english ..salam..

asallaum allaikum.  i am muslim convert as well.  i am a muslim on my own free will.  i want to be a better muslim but i know that it is quite impossible for me to be. yet from day to day i struggle to be a good muslim. 

i don't sweat my insignificant flaws and weaknesses (especially if i don't harm anybody) because living in this this unIslamic country, in this day of age ..it is but only very difficult to follow the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). 

i am accountable for own actions but if i once in a while i err or make the wrong choices and/or judgement, or drink alcohol on special occasions; all the more in awe i am of the type of person the Prophet(pbuh) was!

yours,

baisha

I'd just to like to make all the new converts who struggle every day feel slightly better in knowing that all muslims struggle regardless of whether you were born a muslim or converted.

asalamualaykum , ray my advice is that read the Quran and Hadith and try praying and if you know any muslims have them help you and tell you more stuff about islam you will quit drinking i know well for now good luck.

masalama

Assalamu Alaikum Brother:

If you have an addictive or compulsive personality it is very difficult to change a habit, but it can be done. You have to replace it with something else. This sounds easy, but can be extremely difficult.

The best way is to identify why you are drinking. What does it give you? Does it make you feel better, make you forget, make you more confident? When do you drink? A specific time of day, when you feel sad or lonely? Once you identify these triggers, you can work to change the environment that makes the triggers occur: if you drink when you are at home alone, go out. If you drink when you are feeling sad, find an activity that will occupy you when you start to feel the sadness coming on. If you drink when you feel lonely, go to the mosque or volunteer, anything to be around other people.

I know it sounds easier than it is, but the first step to changing any negative or detrimental behavior is to identify and replace. If you feel that you do not have the strength to do this alone, or you are not sure exactly what triggers you, then seek help from professional sources such as counseling or Alcoholics Anonymous. There is nothing in Islam that forbids seeking help.

Most importantly, you must sincerely want to change, and have faith in Allah(SWT) that He will give you strength in this struggle.