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New
Years Eve, Alcoholism and Muslims
| By Karima Burns, MH, ND |
24/12/2001
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They
ask you concerning alcohol and gambling.
Say:
"In them is a great sin, and some benefits for men,
but
the sin is far greater than the benefit." Holy Qur’an 2:219
It
has always seemed ironic to me that New Years Eve has marked an increase in
drinking as well as a mass rush to write down a list of “New Year’s
Resolutions”. As Muslims, of course, we can see the irony in this. One should
not be drinking to begin with, let alone in excess, at a mixed party. It is a
bit ridiculous to then go home and make a list about how one can be a better
person the next year. However, this irony is a reality for many people – even
Muslims.
It
is certain that many of the celebrations on New Year’s Eve involved the
consumption of alcohol. It is also just as certain that many people drinking at
those celebrations were Muslims.
As
Muslims, we must try to avoid alcohol and encourage other Muslims to do the
same. We must also be able to help our fellow Muslims who do drink by
recognizing the symptoms of alcoholism, knowing the harms of alcohol (even one
drink can harm you). We must also advise and help or fellow Muslims without
imposing blame or ridicule.
The
word “alcohol” is derived from the Arabic word al-kohl, which means
fermented grains, fruits, or sugars that form an intoxicating beverage when
fermented. Khamr or, khamrah, is the word used in the Qur'an to denote a
fermented beverage that intoxicates a person when he/she drinks it.
Although
alcohol is forbidden in Islam,
it is widely available in Casablanca and other Moroccan cities (Lawless), as
well as other Muslim cities around the world. In fact, Muslims are not immune to
alcoholism at all. Morocco and Egypt both produce two brands of beer and at
least half a dozen different wines, and import just about every kind of alcohol
that exists. The Register of Addition Specialists and Castle Worldwide list
addiction and alcohol abuse centers for Muslims even in Saudi Arabia – a
country where alcohol is illegal.
Dr.
O.P Kapoor states that symptoms of alcoholism in Yemeni and Gulf men are often
not diagnosed since alcoholism is not as widespread and familiar to the medical
profession there. However, he says that many of his Muslim patients consume beer
and wine, contributing to their gastric health problems (Kapoor).
Recently,
non-alcoholic beer was banned for a short time in Kuwait when it was found that
it contained high levels of alcohol (AFP). Furthermore, even “true”
non-alcoholic beer, which is popular with Muslims in the Gulf, as well as other
Arab and European States, DOES contain alcohol in small amounts and has been
condemned by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) because it provides not only alcohol, but
also “triggers” the senses of smell and taste that can encourage alcoholism.
In studies, both small levels of alcohol and the anticipation of alcohol in
non-alcoholic beer raised levels of a brain chemical called dopamine, which
plays a role in feelings of elation and pleasure (Buddy).
However,
despite the spread of alcoholism in the Arab world, little is being done to
educate Muslims about the health risks of intoxicants. Many Islamic websites
simply emphasize the “wrongness” of alcoholism and its detrimental effect on
the values of society. Other websites speak mostly of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and
alcohol related liver problems. Many Muslims, then reason that “it’s not
really so bad to drink” as long as they are not otherwise sinning, are not
pregnant - and if they have a strong liver.
What
a lot of Muslims do not know, however, is that as far as the body is concerned,
alcohol is a poison. Consumption of alcohol is not only an issue that concerns
morality, pregnancy or liver health. Alcohol can also damage the brain,
pancreas, duodenum and central nervous system and causes metabolic damage. In
fact, alcohol causes metabolic damage to every cell in the body in such a slow
and insidious way that it may take years for one to actually notice the damage.
This can give the illusion that one is “doing OK” with their alcohol or that
the one drink did not affect them at all. On the contrary - the liver, which is
the only organ that actually processes the alcohol, can actually be up to 3/4
damaged before the person becomes aware of the damage…by then the liver
usually shuts down completely.
Furthermore,
when alcohol is broken down in the liver it inhibits the organ’s production of
digestive enzymes and impairs the body’s ability to absorb fats, proteins and
the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) - as well as the B-complex vitamins.
This happens every time a person drinks. Because of the work the liver must do
to process the alcohol, toxic amounts of fat get stuck in the liver. This can
cause obesity and trouble with weight loss, even in people who consume moderate
amounts of alcohol.
Another
common effect of alcohol on the body is that of damage to the peripheral nervous
system, such as the feet and hands. One may experience shaking or loss of
sensation in either. The pancreas also can become inflamed and thus can lead to
diabetes. Men who drink alcohol also experience a great decrease in their
production of testosterone, a male hormone that is basically responsible for
making them “male”. Alcohol is also one of the most common causes of reduced
sexual performance, impotence and infertility. A common “old wives tale”
recommends that a woman tired of her marriage bed needs only to allow her
husband a sip of beer to quell his passions.
People
consuming large amounts of alcohol may also eventually become deficient in zinc,
which can cause one to lose their sense of taste or smell and thus some of their
enjoyment of food. This also impairs their ability to heal wounds - so
alcoholics who get injured or have surgical scars may never heal properly.
Combining alcohol with over the counter drugs like Panadol, Tylenol and others
has often proved deadly to some people as well. If a person is allergic to
suphites (sulpha drugs, sulphites, etc…) then alcohol is even more deadly, as
it is manufactured with sulphites.
To
detect if you or a loved one has a problem with alcoholism, you should learn to
recognize symptoms commonly related to a drinking problem. Symptoms directly
related to excessive drinking include: dizziness, delayed reflexes, slowed
mental function, memory loss, poor judgment, emotional outbursts, aggressive
behavior, lack of coordination, shaking of the hands, nervous system disorders
and anxiety. Symptoms of withdrawal (when trying to quit) are: cravings, nausea,
vomiting, gastrointestinal upset, abdominal cramps, anorexia, fatigue, headache,
anxiety, irritability, chills, depression, insomnia, tremors, weakness and
hallucinations.
Many
Muslims are afraid to seek help for alcoholism because of the fear of what
people will say or think of them. However, we must remember that no one is
immune to immorality. Allah condemns even those who sell or support alcohol.
Most people support alcohol sellers when they eat at restaurants that serve
alcohol, buy products from those who sell alcohol and even when they fly on an
airplane.
“The
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allah has cursed wine, its drinker, its
server, its seller, its buyer, its presser, the one for whom it is pressed, the
one who conveys it, and the one to whom it is conveyed,” (Buhkari: Book 26,
Number 3666). The only way we can combat alcoholism in our community
is to first observe it, accept that there is a problem, and lovingly assist
those Muslims who are having trouble.
Sources:
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