A new scientific research revealed that there is a similarity between the brain activities that are triggered in gamblers and drug-addicts. The scientists, that have carried out this research in the German city of Hamburg, said that the results of this research have shown that gambling was a kind of addiction. In a research published in Neuter Neuro science magazine, it was shown that the brain areas, that are active in the case of a person who feels satisfaction and delight while trying to attain a specific purpose, do not show the same activity in the case of drug-addicts and gamblers alike. The experiment hinged on two groups of 12 members. The first group, were addicts, while second group involved people who did not pay much attention to gambling. Scientists used magnetic resonance techniques to trace their brain activities while they were playing cards. It was shownthat the area of the brain which is accountable for the feeling of satisfaction did not show any activity in the case of the group of gamblers, while it did for the second group who were merely playing cards, as a simple game. Scientists recognise this brain inactivity as a sign of addiction, since the secretion of the Dobamine substance, which is triggered in the brain and accountable for the feeling of satisfaction, becomes very low in the case of gamblers and drug-addicts. This is the reason why addicted people need more powerful and exagerated stimulants like gambling and intoxicants.

This article, which I have translated again from BBCArabic.com helped me to understand the nature of gambling as an addiction. The more a gambler strives to get the satisfaction and delight which he/she lacks in the game, the more he becomes violent and agressive. This lack of satisfaction makes the person nervous , and less satisfied with his achievements. So he is likely to spend more time and energy just to reach this state of mind. Such is drug and gambling addiction. It a waste of much time and postive energy that could be spent in more fruitfull activities. When I read this article, the first thing that I remembered is the Qur'an. It is amazing how Qur'an talked about gambling and intoxicants in many verses, but what surprised me more is the fact that the concept of gambling is brought together with intoxicants. At first glance it could seem as a mere coincidence but as I read more verses itbecame more apparent that talking about gambling and intoxicants side by side was to lay the focus on the similarity between these two types of addiction. God says in the Holy Qur'an:

"They ask you about intoxicants and gambling: say, ‘In them there is a gross sin and some benefits for the people. But their sinfulness far outweighs their benefit."

O’ you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them that you may succeed."

"Shaytan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicant and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer So, will you not then abstain?"

Is it not amazing how God talked about intoxicants and gambling side by side on many verses , while scientists, today, strive to explain the similarity between them and show us that both intoxicants and gambling produce inactivity in the area of the brain accountable for producing the substance of satisfaction and delight. How could Qur'an be so homogeneous and come up with scientific evidences 1400 years ago, if it was not the true word of God? How Muhammad (pbuh) could come up with these amazing scientific evidences if he was an illetterate Prophet?

• sources:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/arabic/sci_tech/newsid_4161000/4161439.stm

* Qur'an (check: http://www.theholybook.org/content/section/1/2/

 and

 www.tanzil.info