Comeon psyah - the very definition of an addict is that they no longer 'choose' the opiate. It becomes a compulsion, many times with chemical dependency and physical manifestation (shiver, headache, nausea, or worse).
I've seen similar though not identical symptoms in those addicted to religious ritual and superstitions - you may have heard of the guys who start sweating and go incoheerent for short durations if late for prayer etc.
I don't drink except when I come across an exceptional vintage or a really smooth scotch. Colege, used to guzzle beer and thought of it more as yet another beverage than a alcoholic drink. Twice in my life I got drunk on purpose to see what it is like - actually took a hotel room, stayed in for 3 days just to make sure I limit any potential disaster. After the 2nd drink, lost all interest in going through wit it because it was simply boring. The second time, had friends come over (in case the first experience was due to lack of company). Guess what? Again our gang including me were more enthralled in chatting around and doing stuff than drinking!)
My point is, drinking is not at all terribly exciting and as someone earlier pointed out, it is indeed sad if that is what represents excitement in ones life. BUT
- it can be exciting on occasion
- one has to be responsible
- one cannot use it to drown sorrows or solve problems
- don't do it because others told you to
And I'd say the same of religion. Don't let drink or religion rule you. God is not = Religion. Just like excitement is not = drinking.
Peace Tariq Akhtar
I hear what you are saying but your parallels are all over the place. I was simply showing that if we utilise the word 'choice' you need to understand what level of 'choice' people actually have.
When an alcoholic drinks alcohol he in the strictest sense does CHOOSE to do so, it just becomes so hard for him to choose against it. In a very different sense the one who choose to do Jihad is that person who surpasses physical dependencies and makes his mind control the desire against it. The person who chooses to be moderate is not struggling but swaying this way and that. Puts a little alcohol in himself and stops. The problem is that alcohol itself reduces will power and by taking a little could easily cause a person to go just that more until they are merry and loud, but not quite seeing double.
God rules us, that is our belief, we follow Islam ... when we let it rule us, we do so not because we are tricked into it like alcohol tricks people. We do so purely out of a higher sense of will power even higher than those moderate drinkers who choose to have a merry once in a while. Which person will willingly enslave himself ... not the biggest alcoholic will want himself to be ruled by alcohol, but you see that is where Muslims are different we want to be slaves of God.