Advice to drug addicts ...

By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb
Dear Brother / Sister,
There is glaring evidence, all over the world, of the damage
that drug taking does to a person’s health, both physically and
spiritually, and so too the adverse and detrimental effects it has
on society. I therefore do not wish to emphasize and elaborate
on its harms. However, I do request you to take heed and
ponder over the following points :
1.) People, everywhere, are found to be spending thousands
of Rands, Dollars, Pounds, etc. to ‘buy’ health. We have
not found anyone spending money to buy ill health.
Health foods, diets, exercise equipment and the likes form
a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Not only do people exert
themselves physically for good health but, as is seen,
financially as well.
Consider whether you are ‘purchasing’ health or ill health in
expending money on drugs. Be it Cocaine, Crack, Heroin,
Marijuana or Hashish, ill health is being purchased;
sometimes at an astronomical cost.
...The soundness and well-being of the good health you were
favoured with, which has been lost in the damage of your
liver, lungs and mind, by drugs; sometimes cannot be
restored with all the medication and costly stays at
rehabilitation centres.
Moreover, the consequences of such expenditure is that you
cannot think straight and you indulge in deeds and actions
you would never, otherwise, think of doing in your right
frame of mind.
2.) Consider the many people who are spending fortunes at the
doors of courts to buy back respect, which they deem they
lost by way of defamation of character. Such a person will be
found proud and happy when judgement is given in his
favour: that indeed he, the respondent, had been defamed, his
good character had been tarnished and a bad image of him
had thus been created.
So he sues for defamation of character and is rewarded a
sum of money – the value and worth of his name and
character!!! All this trouble, for what ? For his respect and
dignity back. ...If it was due to a newspaper article, then
he requests a written apology as well.
People spend hundreds of thousands on lavish weddings,
birthdays, engagement functions, etc. Presidents spend
millions of taxpayers monies on inauguration celebrations.
All this, for what ? ...Name, respect and honour. So whether
justified or not, money is spent to ‘buy’ respect and
honour.
What does a drug addict do ? ...He spends his money
buying disrespect, distrust, shame, humiliation and disgrace.
Who respects a drug addict ? Who would like to give his
daughter in marriage to a drug addict ? How many marriages
have ended and how many relationships and friendships have
been severed due to the same ?
As a result of drug addiction, you are not trusted at home.
...Your father hides his cash and your mother hides her
jewellery due to the fear that their son would stoop to any
level to maintain his drug addiction. Neither are you
trusted in the business you work at. ...Your employer will
be wary and perpetually on guard due to the same fear.
If, on the other hand, you seek employment and your habit
is known, then you get a straightforward : ‘No.’ as an
answer. Is this a respectable life ? Is it worth bartering
your permanent respect for a short term ‘high’?
... All kinds of defamatory titles and labels are given. You
are called a “Dagga Rooker”, “Druggie”, etc. But you
cannot claim for any defamation because you defamed
yourself.
...Think about this stigma that you will carry for the rest of
your life.
3.) What of the trauma that young and innocent children have to
experience and endure, having to contend with a father who
has a very, very shameful habit ? What of the negative effect
this evil addiction has on the education and upbringing of
those children ? What if they follow suit – take to the same
habit and lead the same miserable, unhappy life ?
...These are the returns on money squandered financing a
thriving drug market.
4.) Think again, if it is a ‘friend’ that has introduced you to
taking drugs. ...Who is a friend ?
A friend is one who is concerned about his friend’s
goodness, welfare and health. A friend wishes to see his
friend progress in life, be happy, and enjoy respect and
success in both worlds.
A true and sincere friend is a helper, supporter and protector
of one’s spiritual well-being as well, encouraging that
which is good and discouraging that which is evil and
destructive.
An enemy, on the other hand, desires the destruction of a
person’s life, health, wealth and respect. So can the ‘friend’
who encourages you or offers you drugs be called a friend ?
Nay, he is your enemy. ...You now have Shaytaan, nafs, this
friend and those who supply the drugs as your enemies.
Allah Ta’ala mentions the reality and outcome of such
‘friendship’ in the Qur`aan Sharief :
‘F RIENDS ON THAT D AY WILL BE FOES , ONE TO ANOTHER ,
- EXCEPT THE R IGHTEOUS .’ [SURAH Z UKHRUF 43 : 67]
On the Day of Qiyaamah, many a person will be extremely
remorseful for having befriended a person who encouraged
him to naught but evil and sin.
...The most common cause of addiction is peer pressure.
Almost every addict reveals being introduced to drug taking
(so too alcohol and smoking) through ‘friends’.
Rasulullah Sallam has said : “A person is on the Deen (way of
life) of his friend so everyone of you should look at who he
befriends.”
SO MY ADVICE
• When you intend to buy the next drug, stop before taking it .
• Look at the drug carefully .
• THINK . CONTEMPLATE. PONDER. REFLECT : If this goes
into my system, then? ...Then the consequences that follow
will be seriously harmful and damaging to my health; that same
health which is a priceless gift, blessing and bounty of Allah
Ta’ala and for which I will be accountable on the Day of
Judgement.
What will be my reply when Allah Ta’ala will say : We
granted you sound and healthy limbs ... hands, feet, eyes,
ears, nose, etc. What have you done to express your gratitude
for all these gifts ? And what will be my reply when
questioned as to how I expended the wealth given to me by
Allah Ta’ala ?
Added to this, this drug will ruin my respect and dignity in
society. I will be denounced and condemned by society
because I am another problem, added to the list of problems
already existing.
• Therefore, don’t damage your health and waste your wealth
by taking drugs. If you are tempted into purchasing and have
purchased one, then throw it into the toilet and flush it
away... before it flushes more of your health, wealth and
respect away.
• And tell that ‘friend’ who is encouraging you to do drugs:
“If you are my friend, then you would not lend a hand and
help in the destruction of my body and soul. Your ‘sincere’
concern is in increasing my dependency on something most
ruinous to my health and respect, and your ‘moral support’
is in imbibing more poison into my system. The friendship
you thus express and project is in reality one of enmity.
Since such friendship is no friendship...Farewell.”
...Insha-Allah (Allah willing), you will be blessed with true,
sincere and well-wishing friends.
A SPECIAL PRESCRIPTION
There are many who are granted the blessed opportunity to
visit the holy lands of Makkah Sharief and Madina Sharief.
Unfortunately, they return after the Haj, ‘Umrah and
Ziyarah with the same evil habits they had before. The
reason being, is that they had no genuine intention of
“kicking” their bad habit/s or did not make use of the golden
opportunity to sincerely repent from their evil actions.
Alhamdulillah, I know of many, many, young, middle-aged
and even some elderly people, including some girls and
women who have informed me telephonically or who have
written to me, that following my prescription to them, they
have ‘kicked’ their bad habits after return.
Four friends who were drug addicts, taking everything from
mandrax to ecstasy and cocaine, were planning to go to
Malaysia for a holiday. While counselling them, I suggested
that instead of Malaysia, they go for ten days to Makkah and
Madina Sharief .
Beside other points of advice, I said to them :
People always say : ‘Don’t forget to take...’ this or that
when travelling to Saudi Arabia. I say : ‘Please DO FORGET
to pack your mandrax and cocaine. If not, then prepare for
your execution - with a sharp sword. Saudi Arabia warns of
Death sentence if caught with drugs.’
While in Makkah Sharief, take advantage of a very special
means of ‘shifa’ (cure) – The sacred water of Zam Zam. Drink
only Zam Zam water – as much as is humanly possible.
Although it is not forbidden to drink tea, juices and cold-
drinks, just go on a diet of Zam Zam water only; for
quenching the thirst, and even when not thirsty.
Rasulullah Sallam has said : ‘Zam Zam is a cure for any
purpose for which it is being drunk.’ ”
Another Hadith states : ‘If you drink it to quench a thirst, it
will do so; and if you drink it to fill the stomach in place of
food, it will do so; and if you drink it for a cure from some
illness, it will do so. ...’
Thus, make plenty of dua when drinking, with the niyyat
(intention) that Allah Ta’ala cure you of your physical and
spiritual ailments, especially the habit of drug taking (or
other evil habits).
Do this as many times as possible, during the day and night.
Insha-Allah, before return, you would have quit the addiction.
Then again, every area in and around the Haram Sharief
presents numerous opportunities where Duas are accepted.
Therefore avail yourself of this blessed time and these blessed
places. Make dua that Allah Ta’ala purify of these bad habits
- During Tawaaf
- At the Multazam
- At the Meezabur Rahmah
- Upon Safa and Marwah
- During the Sa’ee (While walking between Safa and Marwah).
- After Salaah at the Maqaam-e-Ibraheem
- At the Ruknul Yamaani
- When one’s sight falls on the Ka’bah Sharief
- Inside the Hateem
Pour out the shame within your heart before Allah Ta’ala in
all these mubarak places. Express regret and repentance of the
bad habits of drugs, wine, alcohol, gambling, fornication,
cigarettes or whatever Haraam you are addicted to. ...If it is
Haj, then Mina, Arafaat and Muzdalifa are cherries on the
top for the acceptance of dua and taubah (repentance).
In Madina Sharief, present yourself at the Raudha
Mubarak of Rasulullah Sallam. After presenting your Salaam,
say: “O Beloved Rasul of Allah Ta’ala, Allah Ta’ala has
revealed the ayat :
“...IF THEY HAD ONLY , WHEN THEY WERE UNJUST TO
THEMSELVES , COME UNTO YOU AND ASKED ALLAH’S
FORGIVENESS; AND THE RASUL HAD ASKED FORGIVENESS
FOR THEM ; THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND ALLAH INDEED
OFT-RETURNING , MOST MERCIFUL .”
[SURAH NISAA 4 : 64]
Thereafter say : ‘I am a black sheep of your Ummat who is
present, here. I seek forgiveness from Allah Ta’ala for my
indulgence in the Haraam of drugs. I humbly request you to
kindly intercede on my behalf to Allah Ta’ala, that He
forgives my sins of the past and gives me the courage and
taufeeq to give up my evils altogether. I want to live and die
a true believer and sincere lover of Allah Ta’ala and His
Rasul Sallam.’
At other mubarak places in the Musjid and outside, make
plenty of dua for forgiveness.
...Zam Zam is also available freely and abundantly, even in
Madina Sharief. So make the best of it.
On return home, immediately begin attending the gatherings of
Tafseer, Hadith, Da`wat, Taleem, Zikr, etc. Read your five
time Salaah punctually. Stay away from Haraam viewing and
listening, as well as bad company. Continue with dua for
Istiqaamat (steadfastness). Insha-Allah, you will be a clean
person, enjoying peace, tranquillity, respect and happiness.
The youngsters accepted my suggestion. Instead of Malaysia,
they went for ‘Umrah. Alhamdulillah, when these youngsters
returned, they were not only clean of the habit, they were not
even recognisable. ...An eight to ten year habit was flushed
away. SubhanAllah. They are regular at the Majaalis
(gatherings) of Zikr and Ilm, and have become a means of
inviting others toward the noble, pure Deen of Allah Ta’ala.
...May Allah Ta’ala accept.