Grand Ayatollah Shirazi: Consumption, Sale of Narcotics are not permissible
The daily scholarly meeting of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Sadiq al-Hosseini al-Shirazi was held on Wednesday, the 25th of Rabi al-Awwal. In this session, like the previous meetings, the Supreme Marja answered the questions of the attendees about various jurisprudence issues.
Grand Ayatollah Shirazi discussed the ruling on the use of narcotic drugs, and said: “The ruling of intoxicants being haram does not include narcotics. However, we have other Sharia’-based reasons which make the use of narcotics impermissible. Most importantly is the fact that as a result of its pervasive consumption, the society will suffer absolute harm.
Pointing out that narcotic drugs that are not originally liquid are not ritually impure (Najis), his Eminence said: It is not permissible to use narcotic drugs except as much as necessary for purposes like treating diseases and relieving pain. Beyond this, their consumption is not permissible.
The Shia-World Marja then explained the difference between the ruling on narcotics and intoxicants, and said: “The ruling of intoxicants being haram does not include narcotics, but their use in a state of addiction or non-addiction is not permissible because it leads to widespread use in society, which in turn results in absolute harm, and will affect young people in particular. If, in some cases, a fatwa has been issued to allow it, there has been a secondary consideration.”
Grand Ayatollah Shirazi further said: The late Sheikh Ansari cites a narration at the beginning of the chapter on haram professions, using the phrase: “… and anything that results in absolute harm,” and applying this rule anything, to conclude his opinion. He believes that both the use and the buying and selling of such items are not permissible. However, in the past, some of these substances were mostly used medicinally, and some apothecaries offered them as it was conventional to treat some diseases with them at the time. However, their use is not permissible if it causes absolute harm in the society.
