Srinagar June 10: Amid the prevailing rise in drug addiction in Muslim-majority Kashmir, Deputy Inspector General of Police North Kashmir Range, Sujit Kumar has invoked a verse of the Holy Qur’an in a bid to motivate people to keep away from the menace.
“In the very Holy Qur’an passed to us by the holy Prophet (may peace be upon him), it has been said in Chapter 5, verse 90 that any intoxicant whether liquor or drugs is Haram (forbidden in Islam),” Kumar says in a short video interview to a local news gathering agency CNS.
“You consult any cleric (to verify) whether I’m telling the truth, ” the DIG CKR Baramulla stresses further.
The particular verse of the Holy Qur’an Kumar is referring to is indeed from Surah Maa’idah (The Table) and indeed constitutes its 90th verse.
The rough translation of the said verse is reproduced below for ready reference.
“O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idols and drawing lots are all evil, Satan’s handiwork. So, shun them so that you may be successful.”
In the light of the verse forbidding intoxicants, which impliedly includes drugs as well, Kumar says, “Now if we consider liquor as Haram, how can drugs be acceptable?”
Towards the end of the 1-minute-odd video interview, the DIG again impresses the reference to the chapter and verse.
“And you will get answer that in our Holy Qur’an it has been impressed to keep ourselves away from drugs”.
Pertinently, DIG Sujit Kumar was recently seen in another video planting paddy saplings with Kashmiri farmers in north Kashmir.