According to the National
Center for Injury Prevention and Control (U.S.A.), alcohol related vehicle crashes
kills someone every 32 minutes and non-fatal injuries occur every two minutes. The
negative effect of alcohol and drugs in our ‘civilized’ society cannot be denied.
Everyone in our so-called advanced societies has in some way been affected by
the evils of these vices. The National Crime Victimization Survey (U.S.A) reports
that 28% of the victims of violence reported that their attacker was under the
influence of alcohol alone or in combination with other drugs. Alcohol related
acts of workplace violence accounted for 35% of all incidents and 25% of jail
inmates said that they were under the influence while arguing with family,
friends, spouse, etc. Think of the countless incidents of senseless violence
that could have been avoided had neither alcohol nor drugs been involved. Islam
is the only world religion that addresses the evils of alcohol and drugs in its
texts and removes any ambiguity as to the position of Islam on the issue. O
you who believe! Intoxicants, gambling, Al-Ansaab, and Al-Azlaam (arrows
for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitaan's (Satan)
handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be
successful. (The Noble Qur’an, 5:90) Shaitaan (Satan) wants only to
excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder
you from the remembrance of Allah and from As-Salaat (the prayer). So,
will you not then abstain? (5:91) What is evident is that not only does the
Qur’an address the purpose of alcohol and drugs as a means of causing hatred
between people and as a distraction from worship but also in the same verses condemn
the destructive vice of gambling as well. Name one other system that has
inspired almost 23% of the Earth’s population to completely turn away from
alcohol, drugs, and gambling. Of course in every religion there will be those
who do not adhere to some principles of their doctrines but the percentage of
alcohol/drug related crimes, deaths, etc. in even the most unrestricted Islamic
societies are insignificant when compared elsewhere. The economy of our world
is changing so fast, one cannot keep pace with the fluctuations of whether we
are in periods of growth or constriction. At present the world economy is
reeling and individuals, institutions, and even entire nations are being
crippled by the weight of debt. Debt is a true measure of wealth. If the masses
of the people are kept in insurmountable levels of debt, they are not a threat
to those who control where wealth actually ends up. The economic systems employed
by ‘modern’ societies are designed to keep a large portion of the population in
some form of debt by allowing them to use things that they cannot really
afford, enriching the corporations who provide these products and stifling the
growth and creativity of the purchaser with an ever present amount owed. This
is made possible by the use of charging ‘interest’ on loans. This system is
further criminalized when one considers the fact that the lower the income of
an individual or institution, the higher the rate of interest one has to pay.
This system has been used by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund
to wreak havoc in the so-called developing nations by loaning large sums of
money to nations that cannot possibly pay it back, forcing these nations to
relinquish control of its own natural and human resources. Allah, in the Qur’an,
speaks directly to the evils of this institution and provides mankind with the
solution. Those who eat Ribaa (interest) will not stand (on the Day of
Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaitaan (Satan)
leading him to insanity. That is because they say: "Trading is only like Ribaa
(interest)," whereas Allah has permitted trading and forbidden Ribaa
(interest). So whosoever receives an admonition from his Lord and stops eating
Ribaa (interest) shall not be punished for the past; his case is for
Allah (to judge); but whoever returns [to Ribaa (interest)], such are
the dwellers of the Fire - they will abide therein. (2:275) O you who believe!
Be afraid of Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from Ribaa (interest)
(from now onward), if you are (really) believers. (2:278) Acts of kindness
with regards to the debtor is a command from Allah and the manners of how to
justly deal with one who is in debt is given by Allah. And if the debtor
is in a hard time (has no money), then grant him time till it is easy for him to
repay, but if you remit it by way of charity, that is better for you if you did
but know. (2:280) The only result of an economic system that relies on the
debt of others is wealth for some and poverty for most. People are literally
starving not only in countries like Malawi, Rwanda, and Ethiopia but also in
what are supposed to be well to do countries. Travel to any major city in the United
States and you will find a large segment of the population literally sleeping
in boxes and dumpsters not far from some of the wealthiest people in the world.
How did this disparity come to be? Is the success of a society determined by
its selfishness? Islam forbids the hoarding of wealth and demands that those
who have wealth give to those who are poor in order to purify it. This commandment
is given many times in the Qur’an. (Charity is) for Fuqaraa (the
poor), who in Allah's Cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about
in the land (for trade or work). The one who knows them not, thinks that they
are rich because of their modesty. You may know them by their mark, they do not
beg of people at all. And whatever you spend in good, surely Allah knows it
well. (2:273)
Truly those who believe, and
do deeds of righteousness, and perform As-Salaat (Iqaamat-as
Salaat), and give Zakaat (charity), they will have their reward with
their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (2:77) The
Zakaat systems in Islam is a fundamental principle of worship. It is required
of every Muslim who is able to give the Zakaat. The Zakaat is for the poor only
and not to pay someone’s salary or for other extra-curricular activities as
seen in most religions’ idea of charity. It is the only system in which the
wealth of a society is spread out among the people to ensure that the divide
between the wealthy and poor is not so vast. Allah also gives the commandment
to be gentle and understanding with those to whom you have given loans. Under
the current system of laws and regulations, the poor who cannot pay are
punished further with interest rate increases, late fees, etc. Islam is a mercy
to man as it has come to eradicate these forms of oppression.
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