Very interesting article by Rhoda Aideed Rageh,,,
QATOLICS ARE ADDICTED AND SHOULD SEEK HELP
Is Qat the problem or is man abusing qat? This question echoes
through and through in family homes, chat rooms and whenever
an occasion of interaction occurs between Somalis.
For a long time I wished qat would just go away and disappear, but as I ponder deeper on the problem of qat, I realize qat is an addictive vice that can harm the individual who indulges in its joy.
Qat, like any other addictive element; does not have its own mind, but it can drive minds to “mirqaan.†The blame of its indulgence lies not with the thing itself, but with the doer who has lost his or her ability to control desire.
If we study the world hooked on addictive pleasures -- may
it be qat, alcohol or drugs -- to a greater or lesser
extent, we will notice that substances do not abuse people
unless people abuse substances. If we attribute the qualities
of the human being to qat or any other addictive material,
we could blame the substance as the sole destructive force;
unfortunately, man is the only rational being who owns the
mind and the freewill by which to choose.
Indulgence occurs when reason is abandoned. Worldly vices are vast and various; therefore, those who find themselves weak to their desires should exercise enough reason to impose limits upon
themselves. The God Almighty who has created good and evil
has created us with the capacity to distinguish good from
evil and the freedom to follow whichever path we choose.
The burden to curb our desires without which we would be
absolved of all accountability comes with the burden of
reason that, simply stated, separates us from mere animals.
Since God has equipped us with the tools to overcome evil,
the power to act rationally is within us: what happens then
when one’s desire overrules reason? When rationalizing one’s
action subsumes any reasonable understanding of its deadly
consequences. To focus on what is good in evil, let us begin
by analyzing the good in qat before we focus on its evils.
After many faithful inquires about the good in Qat,
(and I tried to find it sincerely), I could not get but one
zealous argument of some qatolics who swear “it enhances
concentration.†However, that one justification which lacks
any scientific evidence crumbles under the weight of its
evils. The qatolics go through three stages in a single day.
Its acquisition stage which takes him or her through the
agony of securing the dose of the day by any possible means.
If he or she can afford to buy, then the task of acquisition
is limited to finding a good catch. When one cannot afford
to buy the belly remains hungry and the mind restless.
In this stage those around the qatolics are financially harmed.
Family welfare becomes secondary. This stage is followed by
the chewing session itself. Large groups of people gather
around a single smoke filled space, usually devoid of fresh
air set either in family homes, in warehouses or even in bad
repute areas. This long and tedious session is a discomfort
and extreme annoyances to those who do not chew qat but who
are condemned to serve and tolerate them. While the qatolics
enjoy the “concentration†and “socialization†it offers, those
around them constantly serve large amounts of hot black tea
that qatolics consume instantly.
The burden placed upon those outside the session is totally lost to those in the midst of euphoria (mirqan). At mirqan, one is at the peak of his pleasurable rapture. This “bliss†evaporates into a long
“qadiro†(hangover) as quickly as one leaves his chewing
session; thus he or she plunges into a pensive and easily
irritable mood. Those around this addict move silently lest
they may trigger his or her irritability. Insomnia lasting
all night then extends into a placid hangover the day after.
Any sleep that was lost at night is recovered the next day
at the expense of meals, work not to mention prayers and all
other activities. Recovery ends where a new cycle begins.
While the qatolics go through their cycles of seeking,
using and recovering from it, their families turn with
the merry-go-rounds of living life around these irrational
pleasure-seeking people. The lives of the pleasure seeking
qatolics, who choose to live in the pains and pleasures of
their bliss, albeit deadly pleasures and the dilemma of
those around them are tied together in fate. As they choose
their “pleasurable ends,†others are bowed down in misery.
Qat is addictive for all of the following reasons:
There is a need for markedly increased amounts of the substance
to achieve intoxication or desired effect.
There is a markedly diminished effect with continued use of the
same amount of the substance.
The same substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal systems.
Substance is often taken in larger amounts for over a long period
than was intended.
There is persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or
control substance use. A great deal of time is spent in
activities necessary to obtain the substance.
Important social, occupational or recreational activities
are given up or reduced because of substance use.
The substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a
persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problems
that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the
substance.
If one is abusing qat, he or she should study these criteria for
substance abuse and impose limits: according to doctors.
Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major
role obligation at work, school, or home (e.g. repeated absence
or poor work performance), or
Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent
social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the
effects of the substance (e.g., arguments with spouse about
consequences of substance use)
If the above symptoms exist, “dependence†or substance abuse
is evident. Any qatolic, who wishes to analyze himself or
herself sincerely, should use these criteria as guide to
conquer addiction. Addiction does not mean one has to look
mad, uncouth and under wear and tear. Missed appointments
for job interviews, arguments with family about one’s behavior
and constant increase of the amount one chews are clear signs
of problems. Any help should begin with the individual’s
realization of the problem followed by acceptance of the
responsibility to curb it. Unless one comes to terms with his
or her addiction, the hope of cure is unlikely. Qatolics
should look inward and start the process of evaluating
themselves. Recording one’s activity of a typical day is a
starting point. This will reveal more than one is expected
to know.
“Mind is a terrible thing to waste†is an African American
message instructing individuals to make better use of their minds.
For a Muslim who is held accountable for the activities of his
living, it means trouble with his Creator (swt). How can
qatolics reconcile with the tenets of Islam when all their
actions go against its teachings? Even if qat has some benefits
but the harm is more than its benefits, a Muslim is instructed
to abstain “from those things whose evil outweighs its benefits.â€
Faith and Reason are the answer to this problem and while all
those qatolics ponder on this, if they can, let them also ponder
on their dire contribution to the crumbling Somali family.
By Rhoda Aideed Rageh, USA
