Jawed Anwar

MARIJUANA, a member of the cannabis family, is legal and now available in the Canadian market for use as a recreational drug.  Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that induces an altered state of consciousness.  It is used to produce an altered state of consciousness for pleasure, by modifying perceptions, feelings, and emotions.  When such a psychoactive drug enters the user’s body, it induces an intoxicating effect.

Allah has created everything for a purpose, and even cannabis has its proper use.  The biggest use of medical marijuana is to alleviate pain, but it is also used to treat seizures, to alleviate muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis, and a few other medical symptoms.  CBD oil is made from cannabis, but the oil is not an intoxicant.  Patients have reported that CBD oil has stopped seizures, cured cancer, alleviated migraines and arthritis, and had several other medical benefits.  These reports, however, have not been confirmed by the general medical society. 

Bad Effect:

“Marijuana use in driving is a growing, contributing factor to fatal crashes,” said Jake Nelson, the director of traffic safety advocacy and research at the American Automobile Association.  In 2015, an eleven-month-old baby died from inhaling his parents’ marijuana smoke, his doctors claimed.  This was the first known case of a person dying directly from exposure to marijuana.  As recreational marijuana use grows in popularity, this sad case will certainly not be the last death.

A widespread recreational use of marijuana will seriously affect mental health, family relationships, and road safety among Canadians. Muslims should be very clear that it is illegal, haram, and completely prohibited in Islam. It is forbidden by Allah, and we must obey Allah (to be called as Muslims).

Prohibited:

“Believers! Intoxicants, games of chance, idolatrous sacrifices at altars, and divining arrows are all abominations, the handiwork of Satan. So turn wholly away from it that you may attain to true success. (Al-Quran 5:90).

The rule for marijuana is the same as it is for wine:

The Messenger of Allah (ï·º) said:

“Every intoxicant is Khamr (wine) and every Khamr is unlawful.” (Ibn Maja, An-Nasa’i)

Responsibility of Forbidding:

It is also mandatory upon Muslims to play the role of the “middle party” (Ummate-Wast) and “best group” (Khaire Ummat) to take responsibility of “enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil” (Amr bil Maroof wa Nahi 'anil Munkar ).

Reference Quran; 3:110, 3:104, 9:71,

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said:

“Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” [Muslim, book 40 Hadith Nawawi 34]

“By Him in Whose Hand my life is, you either enjoin good and forbid evil, or Allah will certainly soon send His punishment to you. Then you will make supplication and it will not be accepted”. (Hadeeth No. 193, Riyadhus Saliheen, Chapter 23)

I felt upset when I saw that, when the bills and laws at Provincial and Federal level are set to damage the society --morally, spiritually, health-wise, safety-wise, and intellectually—the Islamic/Muslim leadership remains silent.

When the bill passed and became law, then they began preaching for the community to be “law abiding citizens”. They realize it is now legal (and they did nothing to stop it from its origin), so they won’t say anything against the “law”. Canadian Council of (modern) Imams will start issuing a letter to the Imam and Khateeb (speakers) of Masajid to be “careful” in your Khutba (sermon), camouflage the truth, and speak only your own “spiritual experience”.    

Please forgive me. At this situation, Surah Tauba ayat 67 reflects in my mind:

[9:67] “The hypocrites, be they men or women, are all alike. They enjoin what is evil, and forbid what is good, and withhold their hands from doing good. They forgot Allah, so Allah also forgot them. Surely the hypocrites are wicked.”

One of our leading Imams and self-acclaimed “faqih” was very upset when no one called him to lead the last Eid prayer anywhere. He has been continuously complaining about it. But this “Faqih” never got a chance to think and ponder upon the spiritual poisonous smoke engulfing the community and nation.

In a superfast highway track, the Liberals driving Canada are crushing all the cars of morality, spirituality, and ethics. 

In most provinces and all the territories, people will be allowed to possess four marijuana plants per household.

Online sales are available in all provinces and territories, whether via private retailers or through government-run websites.

How much it is now in use, one can imagine.

In August, Statistics Canada reported nearly five percent of Canadians— about 1.4 million people — said they had been a passenger in a vehicle driven by someone who had consumed cannabis within two hours of driving.

How much will the government departments and agencies spend extra in awareness, health, road safety, and accidents; and, how badly will it affect Canadian economy? The craziness of liberalism and Satanism never thought about those things.

“The outreach effort won't stop once pot is legal: Health Canada alone is slated to spend more than $100 million over six years on awareness, public education and surveillance,” The Canadian Press reported in September.

Syed Jawed Anwar can be reached at jawed@seerahwest.com