QATOLICS ARE ADDICTED AND SHOULD SEEK HELP

[Wiilo]

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

[BOB]

Wiilo,

 

That was very informative article you posted, i am glad i don't chew that rubbish .

 

Peace, Love & Unity.

[Wiilo]

Walaalo thanks and thanks for not chewing Qad 'cause I hate men who chew Qad :mad:

[Jumatatu]

^^^Damn that takes me out of the equation..