Pathway to Paradise — Page 90
90 Chapter 6: Islamic Viewpoint on Contemporary Issues This chapter is intended to address the Islamic position on primary issues undermining the confidence and moral values of today’s society. American society is daily confronted with personal or media accounts of drug abuse, violence, poverty and so on. Musl ims, and especially new Muslims, must understand the Islamic teachings and attitudes about these subjects in order to better preserve their faith and morality. The topics discussed in this chapter include substance and drug abuse, economic problems, racial issues, homosexuality, abuse of children and women, and family and social pressures that you may encounter if you are a new convert. SUBSTANCE AND ALCOHOL ABUSE The abuse of drugs and alcohol is one of the most phenomenal problems facing American society. In spite of the government spending huge amounts on the “drug war,” young people are losing their lives and dreams to drugs. Such a thing as the “drug culture” h as emerged, and drugs have become the major cause of gang warfare. Alcohol, long having been an integral part of American social life, has wrecked homes and caused countless deaths in car accidents. Government efforts to curb teenage drinking and drunk dri ving have had little success. For the addict