Short answer
Yes. Recreational drugs that intoxicate or seriously harm you, such as cocaine, heroin, MDMA, meth and cannabis, are haram in all four schools. Medicines are different: a drug prescribed by a doctor and taken as directed, even a strong painkiller, is allowed as treatment. Misusing a prescription to get high is haram.
Every intoxicant is haram, in small or large amounts, and the fatwa follows Imam Muhammad on this. Drugs such as opium and the like are haram to take for pleasure or intoxication. A small, non-intoxicating amount used as medicine for a real need is permitted.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said that every intoxicant is khamr and every intoxicant is haram. The Quran calls intoxicants and gambling filth from the work of Satan. When drugs such as hashish and opium appeared, the scholars of every school applied this to them, and the Hanafi texts say that eating them is forbidden because they ruin the mind.
There are two reasons a drug can be haram:
- It intoxicates. It clouds the mind, as cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, ketamine taken recreationally and cannabis do. See is weed haram.
- It harms. Even without a high, a substance that seriously damages your body or traps you in dependency is not allowed, because the Quran forbids throwing yourself into destruction.
Prescription medicines. Opioid painkillers, sedatives and other controlled drugs are allowed when a qualified doctor prescribes them for a real need and you take them as directed. Taking them for the feeling, taking more than prescribed, or buying them without a prescription is haram. If you find yourself depending on a painkiller, tell your doctor early.
Dealing. Selling recreational drugs is haram, and so is the money from it, because it spreads harm to others.
If you are struggling with drugs, you are not beyond help. Repentance is always open, and getting treatment is part of it. See is addiction a sin for how to start, and speak to a doctor or addiction service near you.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:90
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَٰمُ رِجْسٌۭ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٩٠﴾
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.
Intoxicants are forbidden, which the scholars applied to drugs.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:195
وَأَنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا۟ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوٓا۟ ۛ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٩٥﴾
And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.
Substances that destroy health are forbidden even when they do not intoxicate.
Sahih Muslim 2003
Sahih... كل مسكر خمر وكل مسكر حرام ...
"Every intoxicant is khamr, and every intoxicant is haram."
The ruling covers every intoxicating substance, not only wine.
Sunan Abi Dawud 3681
Graded hasan sahih... ما أسكر كثيره فقليله حرام ...
"Whatever intoxicates in a large amount, a small amount of it is haram."
Taking a little of an intoxicating drug for pleasure is still forbidden.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Ashriba. Hashish, opium and banj are forbidden; a small amount for medicine is allowed; the fatwa is on Imam Muhammad's view that every intoxicant is haram.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Ashriba. Eating banj and hashish is haram because it corrupts the mind.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.