Below is a post that I wrote four years ago regarding the issue of some youth questioning if marijuana can be smoked during the month of Ramadan.
The exception to what was written below is that if someone has a prescription for marijuana for a legitimate medical reason such as glaucoma.
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http://dawudwalid.blogspot.com/2007/09/no-marijuana-inside-and-outside-of.html
I’ve become a little troubled by the amount of people, who are finding this blog by googling “marijuana Ramadan.” Muslims from Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia to the USA are making these inquires.
Clearly in Islam, all intoxicants are forbidden, which includes marijuana.
I know, it comes from “the earth” and we are allowed to use the “herbs.” Nevertheless, it is impermissible in Islam and illegal in America.
Moving to the subject of qat, a stimulant leaf that is popularly chewed in Ethiopia and Yemen, some scholars in Yemen do not deem qat as impermissible. Qat, however, is illegal in America, and its use is not legitimate here. It’s illegal! The one who smuggled it into America is a criminal just as the chewer is a violator of the law.
So for Ramadan, quit your marijuana and qat habits. And no drinking of a glass of red wine a day because the doctor said that it’s “good for the blood.”
SEE references below:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was once asked about certain drinks made from honey, corn, or barley by the process of fermenting them until they became alcoholic. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) succinctly replied, “Every intoxicant is Khamr, and every Khamr is haram.” (Reported by Muslim.)
And `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) declared from the pulpit of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that “Khamr is that which befogs the mind.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Also, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Of that which intoxicates in a large amount, a small amount is haram.” (Reported by Ahmad Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi.) And again, “If a bucketful intoxicates, a sip of it is haram.” (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi.)
I agree. But how would you consider marijuana to “befog the mind”? I understand that drinking alcohol can lead to impaired judgement and loss of inhibition, but I don’t feel the same for Marijuana. Yes, you may find the typical stereotype of a marijuana smoker to just laugh, be lazy, and not care about things. However, you are taking into account the people who use it as a recreational drug, and so the majority of marijuana growers nowadays cater their plants to fit the desires of the consumer (strong in smell and effects), and so it is usually loaded with many chemical fertilizers that are harmful. However, there is a much bigger medical market for Marijuana now, and you can find growers growing Marijuana the natural way – absolutely organic. These organic plants don’t leave one feeling as if they are on a crazy drug trip (with after-effects of headaches and groggyness). It is clean, and pure. I am muslim, and smoke organic marijuana everyday to help ease my anxieties and depressions that have come from modern society. I am sure this is much better and less intoxicating to my body than taking harmful and addicting anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medicines. I do not believe in alcohol at all.
During Ramadan, I believe one should refrain from as many “life crutches” as possible. Seeing as it is only one month, muslims should at least make an attempt to rely on God. However, I also see it no problem during Ramadan that if you need marijuana, even for self-diagnosed issues like depression and anxiety, to smoke it. Why should you live every day in Ramadan with severe depression? It should be about becoming more spiritual, becoming closer to God, becoming more grateful about life, and giving more to the unfortunate.
The scholars are of consensus that marijuana is forbidden. It’s not my mere opinion.
Now even if marijuana was halal, it couldn’t be smoked during fasting hours. Discussing whether other drugs are more harmful than marijuana is “straw man” argument because marijuana’s status has no connection to other drugs like cocaine or PCP or whether your weed is “organic” or not.
BTW, all living matter, which contains carbon is organic. All weed is organic; that doesn’t make it wholesome (tayyib).
No dawud, when I say organic, I mean it is grown with organic fertilizers. Majority of marijuana is grown with chemical fertilizers… which give the negative side effects of grogginess, laziness and clouded-minds. It’s just as you get an organically-grown vegetable market against a conventionally-grown vegetable market in supermarkets nowadays. It is definitely not true that all weed is organic.
and also, about you saying it’s a “straw man” argument – I wasn’t comparing marijuana to other drugs (as you mentioned, such as PCP). I said that organic marijuana doesn’t “leave one feeling as if they are on a crazy drug trip” in the terms that in comparison to conventionally-grown marijuana (grown with chemical fertilizers), organically grown marijuana does not leave your mind fogged.
So your comments are a little contradictory. If you have a license for medical marijuana can you smoke it without breaking your fast for medicinal purposes – organic, or not?
No medicines can be taken during fasting hours. Marijuana is forbidden at all times if it isn’t for medical purposes.
And Allah knows best.