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Islam in the Modern World

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Islam in the Modern World
Islam in the modern world
Societies and individuals in the modern world are becoming increasingly secular in the way they choose to live. The notion of modernity and freedoms has seen a movement away from religions and a drive towards liberal thinking and differing philosophies on the best way to live and conduct relations. However these change in moving away from religion has not necessarily brought about positive developments in many facets of modern life.
The purpose of this essay is to highlight how Islam not only fits in the current modern world, but it can also resolve some of the most complex social issues faced by the modern world. Issues such as alcohol consumption, Drug addiction, gambling and unethical financial practices have plagued societies for many years. This paper will look at how Islam has a solution for each of these problems.
As per the World Health Organisation, there has been a sharp increase in alcohol addiction in the world’s population. Alcohol is stated to be the world’s third largest risk for acute health problems and deaths; it is the leading cause of death in the Western society including America, Pacific and Europe.
The use of alcohol is associated with 2.5 million deaths yearly. Within the age group of 15 to 29 year olds, approximately 32,000 deaths are related to alcohol abuse which is 9% of total deaths in that age group (World Health Organisation, 2011).
Addictive drug usage is another big problem faced by the modern societies. Illegal drugs have proven to have catastrophic impacts on human bodies and minds. Individuals addicted to drugs require extensive assistance through rehabilitation processes to bring them back to normal life. In a study conducted between 1979 and 1999, the death number related to drugs apart from alcohol and tobacco increased an additional 79% to nine deaths for each 100,000 people. The use of illicit drugs and an alcohol can have deeper effects into the social and economic character of the society



References: World Health Organisation, (2011) Alcohol [Online] Available at http://http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs349/en/index.html# [Accessed 12 March 2013] Australian Bureau Of Statistic  (2001) Illicit Drug Use[Online] Available at http://http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/5297543A4FB65250CA256B11001DC42E [Accessed 12 March 2013] Michalak, L, & Trocki, K (2006) 'Alcohol and Islam: an overview ' Contemporary Drug Problems [Online] 33, (4)521,523-562. Available at http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.uws.edu.au/docview/233169511 [Accessed 10 March 2013] Kamarulzaman, A., & Saifuddeen, S.M. .(2010) 'International Journal of Drug Policy ' Islam and harm reduction  [Online] 21,(2)115-118. Available at http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.uws.edu.au/science/article/pii/S0955395909001558  [Accessed 12 March 2013] Australian Government Problem Gambling (2010) Problem Gambling [Online] Available at http://www.problemgambling.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Families-Friends-Resource-Designed-FINAL-120703.pdf [Accessed 13 March 2013] Australian Government Problem Gambling (2010) The facts GAMBLING IN AUSTRALIA [Online] Available at http://www.problemgambling.gov.au/facts/ [Accessed 12 March 2013] Australian trade commission (2010) Islamic Financial [Online] Available at http://http://www.austrade.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/2792/Islamic-Finance-Publication.pdf.aspx [Accessed 13 March 2013] Toby, M. (2010) 'My Global Financial Crisis ' Journal of Communication Inquiry [Online] 34, (4)432-438. Available athttp://http://jci.sagepub.com.ezproxy.uws.edu.au/content/34/4/432.full.pdf+html [Accessed 15 March 2013]

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