Using Viagra and other stimulants

4-10-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

Are we using viagra permitted in Islam?

---

Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. The substances that stimulate the sexual desire are of two kinds: - Natural substances like vegetables, fruits, herbs and leaves from woodland, forests or similar things. Taking such substances in moderation is lawful unless it causes any considerable harm. In this case, it becomes unlawful to take the harmful substances among them. - The second kind is manufactured sexual stimulants, whether from chemical agents or others, such as pills or other drugs made for this purpose. The lawfulness of such medicaments depends on their harmfulness. Such drugs have most of the time side effects that may influence the different functions of the human body. Research has shown that they have negative effects on the body. In fact, such drugs deceive the body making it believe that it has a doubled power. As a result, it (the body) acts accordingly and makes a physical effort that is beyond its normal capacity. Consequently the heart as well as the blood circulation exceed their normal effort enormously. But after the job is done, the body and heart find themselves unable to put up with the consequences. This results in some serious cases like systoles and exhaustion which some times lead to death. This is why it is initially unlawful to use such drugs following the Shariah ruling. "There is no harm nor reciprocal harm" and forbidding such drugs is a preventive measure so that no life is killed without right. Allah knows best.