Addiction can devastate family life. But there is a way to regain sanity and normality back into life. The keys to finding the answers are 1) turning to Allah 2) gaining knowledge about addiction and the role the family plays in recovery and 3) getting professional help.
“…and whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out.” (Qur’an 65: 2-3)
What does Islam say about intoxicants?
“O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling (sacrificing on) stone alters (to other than Allah), and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. Satan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not then abstain?” (Qur’an 5: 90)
Most people think that the solution to the problem is to get the person to just stop using, then life will return to normal.
Firstly, you cannot “just stop” addiction. There are spiritual, psychological and physical problems involved. Addiction is an illness and needs professional treatment.
The person with addiction can have an enormous amount of control over the family. He/she can escape the responsibility of facing up to doing something about his/her addiction in different ways.
The addict’s behaviour causes the family to become obsessed with their loved one’s addiction and the problems he/she causes to the family.
The family needs to understand how their own behaviour affects the situation and how to modify it. When the family improves their own understanding, attitudes, actions and reactions this will not only help them to recover but also improve their loved one’s chance of recovery, insha Allah.
If the family is always pretending, covering up for and bailing their loved one out of trouble, this only protects them from facing up to his/her own responsibilities and enables the addictive illness to continue. Every person is accountable and responsible for his or her own choices and actions, and Allah (swt) will not help a person unless they open their heart to Him and ask His help sincerely.
“That is because Allah would not change the favour which He had bestowed upon a people until they change what is within themselves. And indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” (Qur’an 8:53)
As well as this, the family members should do some sincere soul searching. Have they done their best to nurture their relationship with their loved one prior to the addiction? Did they have good communication? Did they practice Islam? The family members may need professional therapy and counselling.
Alhamdulillah, Allah (swt) hears the du’a (supplication) of His servants. So, make du’a to Allah (swt) in hope, but always accept with patience what befalls, and Allah is with those who are patient.
At NZF the New Beginnings program is designed to support individuals and families who have been victims of addictive behaviours themselves, or through a family member’s lifestyle.
https://www.nzf.org.au/program/new-beginnings or Call: 1300 663 729
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