Drugs and Parties are Destroyers of a Nation and a result of Individual Freedom Enshrined in Capitalism

The sadness of the loss of MH370 which has caught the attention of the world has not settled down and yet, we are shocked again with the death of six teenagers in a concert held at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur. The Future Music Festival Asia 2014 (FMFA) concert which entered its third day was canceled due to the death of several teenagers who allegedly overdosed drugs while three other teenagers were reported in comas and critical. Most likely this concert would have been continued if no deaths were reported. In this case, the mistake was merely pointed to the youths who took drugs and the syndicate supplying drugs to the teenagers involved. However, fault was not placed on the shoulders of the organizers nor the provider of the permit to the organizers! This concert gained full support from the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Dato 'Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz. In the West, concerts like this are known for drugs, which would involve the loss of life, damage to faith and moral decadence. As a minister, Dato 'Seri Mohamed Nazri should not have allowed the concert to be held and should also forbid any form of activities that will lead to negative implications, especially to teenagers and Muslims.

In a democratic-capitalist system, certain things are viewed good and beneficial if it can bring profit to the capitalists. If profit from the material aspect can be obtained through holding concerts like this, then they will be given the greatest space and opportunity for it to be executed. The organizers and the rulers of our country who issued the license have never thought of the negative short and long-term effects of their act on our generation of hope due to the organization of such concerts. Khairy Jamaluddin, the Minister of Youth and Sports issued a statement: "We will examine all aspects of organizing a concert in the country so that in the future, these concerts are free from drug abuse and immorality. We will not let this incident pass with the potential for relapse." Another concert entitled 'Live in Colour' is scheduled to be held in Go Kart Circuit, Sepang on 19 April 2014.

This is what regularly happens when life is dominated by the democratic capitalism system. The system which glorifies the freedom to act in every aspect of life. People are not concerned anymore on whether their actions comply to the syariah or otherwise. In this corrupt system, an individual is said to have found true happiness in life if their physical needs and instincts are satisfied according to their lust and limitless desires. Therefore, it is not surprising when the young generation of the Islamic Ummah is lost in a world that prioritizes entertainment which destroys, destructs their moral and clearly contradicts the teachings of Islam.

Just look at the moral crisis faced by the youth of today, which has definitely reached a critical level. The democratic capitalist system has shaped a society where moral is declining day by day. The people who follow this system has replaced the purpose of life, which is supposed to be seeking Allah's pleasure (ridha) into attitudes of individualism and being selfish. They are no longer sensitive towards issues affecting the Muslims. Most of them no longer prevent evil (munkar). Indeed, it is very saddening when some people consider evil (munkar) as something that has to be accepted together with the package of development and progression. Nau'zubillahi minzalik!

Drug trafficking which is increasingly rampant is a result of the application of the capitalist and secularism system where its benchmark is profit which has resulted in people living a hedonistic lifestyle and worshipping physical pleasure. The doctrine of liberalism in this system has taught people that everyone should be given complete freedom. Thus, an example of its implication are the city's nightclubs which are filled with the spread of drug trafficking and are unable to curb. Apart from that, this system is also framed the secularism ideology which isolates religion, thus the corruption will definitely be perfected. The society's dignity and harmony structure is clearly threatened. Therefore, it is clear that the root of the drug problem is actually based on the worldview of the capitalism secularism system.

The reported deaths should also be an eye opener of how we all desperately require a comprehensive system of life that will replace the existing system in order for us to live in peace and prosperity. The system mentioned above is definitely the one that has been revealed upon us by our Creator who is All-Knowing and the Most Wisest of All, a system which stems from the Islamic faith and obliges every human to act in accordance to the Islamic Law.

Although Islam does not forbid its Ummah to entertain themselves, however, entertainment and activities that drives us far away from Allah and our religion is forbidden. In terms of faith, Islam teaches that every good deed will be rewarded in the Afterlife. And otherwise for every sin, including drug abuse, will be punished with a painful chastisement in the hereafter. The hukm (ruling) for taking drugs is clearly haram because it will bring harm. Umm Salamah stated,

«نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ كُلِّ مُسْكِرٍ وَمُفَتِّرٍ»

"Rasulullah saw forbade all intoxicating and soothing substances." (Narrated by Abu Dawud and Ahmad)

Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم also stated,

« كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ إِنَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَهْدًا لِمَنْ يَشْرَبُ الْمُسْكِرَ أَنْ يَسْقِيَهُ مِنْ طِينَةِ الْخَبَالِ ». قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا طِينَةُ الْخَبَالِ قَالَ « عَرَقُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ أَوْ عُصَارَةُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ »

"Indeed Allah will fulfill His promise to anyone who drinks beer to drink thînatal khabâl". They asked, "O Messenger, what is thînatal khabâl?" Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم answered, "The sweat of the residents of hell or lees (residual) of those in the Hell Fire!" (Narrated by Muslim)

Islam, as a way of life brought and implemented by the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to the human society, has indeed successfully addressed social problems in a comprehensive way during its rule. It can only be actualized with the establishment of a society founded by him in Medina, a fair and prosperous society under the auspices of being pleased by Almighty Allah سبحانه وتعالى.

O Muslims who worship the same faith globally, please welcome and answer our call immediately to work together in reestablishing the Islamic system of life under the auspices of the Islamic Caliphate. Embrace, and do perform Allah's commands in the Holy Quran where He سبحانه وتعالى stated,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّـهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ

"O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered."

(Surah al-Anfal: 24)

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Sumayyah Amar

Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir