Can Muslims Smoke Weed?
Cannabis is the most used illicit drug in the world.
For centuries, hashish has been grown and traded throughout the Arab world, with Morocco and Afghanistan among the top providers.
So can muslims smoke weed? How big of a sin is it to smoke weed in Islam? Is weed halal for medical reasons?
By reviewing studies on the harmful effects of smoke weed and comparing them against notions of what is considered forbidden in the Islamic tradition and other communities, this article explores the Controversy over cannabis usage in the Muslim community.
What is Weed?
Cannabis, which can also be called marijuana, weed, pot, or bud, refers to the plant Cannabis sativa that has many different chemical compounds, including well-known THC and CBD.
Both compounds interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system but they have very different effects.
THC is the main psychoactive compound in marijuana that gives the high, intoxicating, mind altering, sensation.
CBD is related to THC, but it’s not psychoactive, so it doesn’t make you “high” like THC does. CBD benefits include pain relief and relaxation.
How do People Use Cannabis? And the Side Effects
Cannabis can be consumed by smoking, as a joint or in a pipe or bong. It’s also available in oils, wax concentrates, edibles, tinctures, capsules, and more.
Cannabis consumption causes impaired executive functioning, psychosis, and schizophrenia, among other impairments. It also affects reaction time, awareness, and motivation.
Smoking cannabis also can inflame and irritate the lungs. This is because the smoke from cannabis contains many of the same toxins, irritants, and carcinogens as tobacco smoke.
Can Muslims Smoke Weed?
In Quran and Islamic teaching, Marijuana itself is not actually directly labeled haram (prohibited and sinful). Most scholars and schools believe it falls under the category of intoxicants or alcohol, but it depends on the person.
In Islam, Anything that affect your mind state is not allowed as drugs, alcohol and whatever, also the person can't pray on that state as the mind need to be fully attended during praying or any other worshiping practices.
There is no doubt that the weed (cannabis) alters the mind and impairs judgment, much like intoxicant or alcohol, which is clearly prohibited in the Qur'an. The Prophet said: “Every intoxicant is khamr, and every intoxicant is haram.
In addition, The act of smoking marijuana ,same as smoking tobacco, is technically haram because it is damaging to the body.
Smoking, whether weed or tobacco, is a killer that causes lung-cancer, lung-tuberculosis and heart diseases.
Islam strongly emphasizes preserving health and avoiding self-harm, and many scholars view smoking as damaging.
Allah says: And do not kill yourselves. (Quran 4/29); He also says: And do not throw yourselves into destruction. (Quran 2/195). These verses are sufficient to make smoking Haram.
Finally, Smoking is a wasting of wealth. The smoker is unjust to himself as well as his family by burning away his money and his chest!
Allah says: ...But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift, Verily, spendthrifts are brothers of the devils, and the Devil (Satan) is ever ungrateful to his Lord. (Quran 17/26-27)
From the above, it is clear that smoking weed is evil and thus it is Haram.
However there is exceptions like treatment or necessity. If you are using marijuana for medical purposes, then it can be halal.
For example marijuana is sometimes used to mange stress, anxiety, and the treatment of pain from conditions glaucoma, nerve pain or cancer.
In these cases when the doctor recommends it to you most scholars say it becomes permissible to use under certain circumstances just as other medicines like opiates would become permissible to use but are otherwise haram.
Conclusion
In line with a general principle in Islamic law, there is a solid case for an exemption for medical or medicinal use under guidance and supervision. It’s a plant that can have a lot of different kinds of benefits for a lot of issues, if used in a balanced way.
Most Muslim scholars frown on recreational use though, since it can impair reason - Paranoia and psychosis, the intoxication itself. If you smoke it, the additional hazards of smoking. And beside, you can't pray while intoxicated.
Smoking weed for recreational use is a mistake, Allah SWT will not punish you if you stop smoking weed and repent sincerely, and He will not punish you for bad thoughts in as much as you don't put those weed induced thoughts into action.
Try all you can to dispose of bad thoughts by staying in positive actions like regular prayers, good deeds and zikr.
So put your weed smoking into prayers so that Allah SWT will make you strong enough to overcome it. Remain blessed.