Muslim Businesses Should Not Sell ‘Cocaine’

 

Written by Imam Dawud Walid

Assistant Imam of Masjid Wali Muhammad

Detroit, Michigan

 

بِسمِ ٱلله الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيـمِ

الحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله وعلى آله وصحبه ومن والاه وبعد:

 

وَٱللَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ ٱلفَسَادَ

 

G’d says in the Qur’an (2:205):

And G’d does not love corruption [in the earth].

 

In Dearborn, Michigan, I’ve witnessed two gas stations selling an energy drink called “Cocaine”.  I’m sure that there are more in Metro Detroit than these two that are selling this drink.

 

When an Imam and I approached one brother, who is an Arab Muslim, about their selling of “Cocaine”, his response was “there is nothing haraam [unlawful] in the drink; it’s okay.”

 

The makers of “Cocaine” are not subtle regarding their marketing plan.  They obviously hope that through appealing to people through the current American glamorization of drug culture through rappers and pop icons like Al Pacino (Scarface), they’ll be able to get rich even at the expensive of spreading more corruption.  Moreover, I’m sure that they believe that its controversial name would spark some protests that would give “Cocaine” free media attention.

 

This is not a new marketing tactic or tool to gain influence in society; it’s centuries old.

 

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لاَ تُفْسِدُواْ فِي ٱلأَرْضِ قَالُوۤاْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ

 

G’d says in the Qur’an (2:11):

And when you say to them, do not make corruption in the earth.  They say we are but peace-makers, doers of good.

 

Granted, these gas stations aren’t selling alcohol or drugs although they sell drug paraphernalia such as flavored blunt wraps to roll marijuana and lottery.  However, they are spreading corruption in the earth, and increasing the social acceptability of cocaine.  As if the energy drink “Pimp Juice” wasn’t bad enough, now minors are joking about getting themselves some “Cocaine.”

 

The bottom line is that no Muslim business should be selling “Cocaine” and “Pimp Juice” whose ingredients are permissible but have names that influence corruption among youth.

 

Below is a religious opinion regarding “Cocaine” from Shaykh Abdul-Latif Berry, founder of the Islamic Institute of Knowledge in Dearborn, which was printed in “The Islamic Times”, September 2008 edition:

 

Cocaine Drink in Shops

 

Q- What is your opinion concerning the cocaine drink?

 

A- A cocaine drink has appeared lately in the market.  Though we do not know much about its contents, we heard that it is Halal (lawful) because it does not contain any narcotics or intoxicants; however, naming it ‘cocaine’ makes exposure to cocaine easier and strengthens in the subconscious taking, and getting used, to the word ‘cocaine’ – which repels and startles people usually – that the youths’ minds become linked to this word, causing psychological restraints to drop and making it easier to look for the real cocaine and use it, knowing that familiarity and habit can control the person’s mind due to the current cocaine drink.  Hence, we caution the dear community and call its attention to the urgent need for boycotting this drink and warning children against it.

 

And surely G’d knows best.