Bear in mind that when the term “intoxicant” is used, it also encompasses narcotics, because they, too, among other things, result in the loss of self-control. There are also many narrations stated by the Noble Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention) with regards to intoxicants, such as: Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “Every intoxicant is Khamr (wine) and every intoxicant is Haraam (unlawful). Whosoever drinks wine in this world and dies whilst having consumed it and not having repented from it will not drink it in the next world [i.e. in Paradise].” [Muslim] Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “If a habitual drunkard dies, he will meet Allah like the one who worships idols.” [Ahmad & Ibn Maajah] In other narrations, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) described intoxicants as: The key to all evils; the head of all errors and lapses; the most terrible of major sins; the mother of all atrocities; the mother of all evils.
Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “The Prophet prohibited every intoxicant and Muftir (every substance which slackens the mind).” The unanimity of the Ummah (or the Muslim nation) on the prohibition of narcotics is also narrated from many scholars. Imaam Az- Zarkashi stated:“The consensus of the Ummah is narrated from several scholars on the prohibition of hashish; those scholars include Qiraafi and Ibn Taymiyyah.”
If that was not enough, Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah further stated that: “Whosoever regards it lawful has become a Kaafir (disbeliever).”
The scholars of all the four schools of Islamic jurisprudence (Imam Abou Haniifah, Imam Maalik, Imam Shaafi’i and Imam Hambali) unanimously agreed that consuming anything intoxicating is Haraam. Certain plants have also been included in this, as Imaam Rafee’ clearly stated: “The scholars have included intoxicating plants, etc. within this prohibition.”
So far, the prohibition of drugs has been proven by means of the Qur’an, Sunnah and Ijmaa’ (the consensus of scholars). It can further be proved by Qiyaas (analogical deduction), i.e. logical reasoning. When a person is intoxicated (or ‘stoned’ in street language), he does not know what he is doing. He could easily kill someone or fornicate, etc. In the same manner, to feed his habit, he will most probably have to steal. These are, without a shadow of doubt, unlawful. There is a general rule that whatever leads to something Haraam (unlawful) is in itself Haraam. Thus, drugs have been proven as Haraam by all four sources of Islamic jurisprudence (Qur’an, Sunnah, Ijama’a and Qiyass).
I had the following to say at the Retreat in my paper, titled: The Evil Effects of Drug Abuse in Nigeria: The Northern States Perspectives” on Tuesday, 19th December, 2017:-
The venue for this retreat, Kano, is appropriate, as Kano State has the largest population in the country, the North inclusive. The metropolis of Kano has the second largest population only after Lagos in the country. One factor that must be taken into account is the homogenous nature of the populace of Kano, ethnically and religiously being demographically composed of Hausa-Fulani and Muslims, respectively. The homogeneity of the ethnic group as well as the religious belief of the populace of Kano as well as other States in the North is key to this discussion. Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol in any form……”
One thing leads to the other, as getting out of one’s mind is followed by committing crime or, to put it mildly, behaviours that are socially unacceptable to the society, such as rape, theft, insulting elders, etc. The consumption of these “mind bending” drugs makes the user “bold” to commit these and more without shame contrary to the cultural and traditional norms of the people.
Those Responsible for Counseling on Curbing Drug Abuse in our Society
Parents, teachers and religious scholars as well as elders and regulatory agencies have a role to play towards reducing the ill-effects of drug abuse, which include:
(a) Parents: It is an obligation of parents to have a firm eye on their children. Once parents begin to notice any sort of changes concerning the behavior of their children, like new friends with suspicious character, petty theft and overstaying night curfew, then they should take necessary actions.
Also, physical attributes like dry mouths or lips, increased sweating and perspiration without any actual cause or trembling of any part of the body should be looked into.
(b) Teachers: Teachers are the second parents. Once a teacher also notices his students showing any of the above attributes, then he/she should peer into it to avoid catastrophe;
(c) Religious Scholars: It is imperative for religious leaders to preach on issues that would direct the society towards enjoining what is good all the time, especially avoiding substances and drugs of abuse. Once a scholar notices a practicing faithful declining from conducting religious obligations or is portraying the attributes we mentioned above, he should be looked at and preached to appropriately;
(d) Elders in the Society: Chiefs and District and Village heads also have a huge role to play in this course. Once new faces are noticed in the community as well as extraneous occurrences or other attributes quite contrary to the norms, then it is necessary to look into the matter further;
Regulatory Agencies
National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC): It is the duty of NAFDAC to register, control and regulate all sorts of drugs. Any drug that is not properly registered, whether it was manufactured here or was imported, it is automatically fake. Sealing all the sources and markets of fake and counterfeit drugs as well as stopping the illicit sales of drugs in open markets, motor stations by drug hawkers are all part of the responsibilities that NAFDAC officials should take seriously and prosecute the offenders caught as they are all means of distributing drugs of abuse;
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA): NDLEA officials have enshrined in their duty the elimination of trafficking, growing, distributing and use of drugs of abuse. Since the inception of NDLEA in Nigeria, the agency has played an important role in curtailing drug peddlers from distributing drugs of abuse. It is also imperative that NDLEA officials should put in more efforts for better success. String punishments and penalties should also be meted on traffickers of drugs of abuse;
Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS): Some of the peddlers of drugs of abuse are not really Nigerians. The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has the function of arresting both foreigners and citizens in every nook and cranny of the country involved in peddling and trafficking drugs and substances of abuse;
The Hospitals: Ensuring the stocktaking of all drugs in hospitals across the nation would reduce the pilferage of drugs of abuse by bad apples among workers and patients resorting to abuse of these drugs;
Increased Awareness: It is necessary for regulatory agencies and the media to introduce write-ups or digital images just like it used to be done before;
Nigerian Customs Service (NCS): Most of the drugs of abuse are not manufactured in Nigeria. They are imported. There are special laws promulgated on the importation of all sorts of drugs. It is necessary for Customs officials to be duly equipped to stop and reduce the illegal importation of all sorts of drugs, especially drugs of abuse.
As such, we can now infer that indulging in drug abuse by youths arises due to unemployment. If a youth is jobless, he indulges in drug abuse, because he assumes the intoxicants would suppress the thoughts and disappointment of lack of job opportunities. As the youth also runs out of cash, he resorts to theft and robbery for money to satisfy his addictive urges.
According to a report from the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, Kano State tops the list of States in Nigeria where the NDLEA made the most number of arrests for drug related offences in the last four years. According to the statistics released by NDLEA, 34,499 drug-related arrests were made across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT between 2012 and 2015. Out of the arrests, 7,317 suspects were actually convicted and punished (ICIR, 2017).
Drug Abuse: Arewa Youths Partner NDLEA, NAFDAC, others: This encouraging collaboration between Arewa Youths and NDLEA, NAFDAC and others appeared in the Monday November 19, 2018 edition of the Daily Trust Newspaper. In the report, it stated that the National President of the Arewa Youth Protection, Unity and Peaceful Forum, one Muhammad Haruna Gaza indicated that the forum resolved to partner with the appropriate authorities agencies, traditional leaders and other stakeholders to end the menace of drug abuse in the region.
In yet another report, the 2015 Annual report of the NDLEA, the Agency stated that the Northwest topped the table of arrests for drug related offences for the year, with a total of 2,205 persons, beating the Southwest which recorded 1,785 arrests. (Premium Times, 19/11/2018). Commercial sex workers, married women, were among the most women who abuse Codeine containing substances, for according to them “… Improve Sexual Prowess…”
In a Research study by some scholars in the University of Maiduguri, (UNIMAID), they indicated the consequences of Drug Abuse on the Youth who persistently abuse substances often “…experience an array of problems, including academic difficulties, health-related problems (including mental health), poor peer relationships and involvement with juvenile justice system …” (Yusuf et al UNIMAID).
Conclusion
To conclude this paper, I will like again to refer to the initial period of ZEDA in 1992 and its chronological development before making recommendations and proposing implementation strategies.
It is no longer news that ZEDA is the first of its kind and the best community-based Educational and Vocational Association in the North. For twenty–six (26) years, the Association has labored on, bringing distinguished academics and seasoned technocrats and politicians to Zaria every year and under an AGM environment to address contemporary issues of educational nature confronting Nigeria. I wish to acknowledge the immense contributions by the past Keynote Speakers twenty-five (25) of them for being here and presented papers. No invited Keynote Speaker has ever sent a representation. They here all responded to the invitation of ZEDA.
In my book, “The Tenth of Ramadhan Lecture: A Convergence of the People of Zazzau for the Progress of Nigeria (2016), I stated somewhere as follows:-
The Annual General Meetings (AGMs) of ZEDA, which the Emir has never missed since 1993, has become one of the major annual events in the City coming only after the Eid-el-Fitri Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, the Convocation of ABU, Zaria and the Tenth (10th) of Ramadhan gathering in the Palace.
The Lecture and AGM proper had attracted almost everyone who is someone from the nineteen Northern States and the FCT and at least a dignitary or two from the Southwest and the Southeast geopolitical zones of the country.
ZEDA, through its flagship programmes of the Remedial Programme, Vocational Programme and the Prominent Indigenes and Friends Scholarship Scheme (PIFSS) Programme, has completely changed the lives of hundreds of youth in the City and elsewhere within the Emirate.
ZEDA sponsored competitions among schools and colleges within the Zazzau Emirate and Kaduna State have inculcated a spirit of academic competitions among institutions. The JAMB Clinic and the recently opened Model Primary and Secondary School have all elevated the Association as a community-based model in educational endeavour of repute within the Emirate system of the North. Last year, the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Association took place in March. As the Association enters the second quarter of a century of its existence, the question to ask would certainly be, where do we go from here?
I have a quick and emotional answer; to carry the flag of community-based endeavour to all the Northern States and the FCT where these are in-existing. And why not?
Here, it may be necessary to quote the foundation Chairman’s vote of thanks after the inauguration of the BoT by His Highness, Alhaji Shehu Idris, CFR, the Emir of Zazzau on that historic day of 5th December, 1992 –
With regard to education, and in this case Islamic education, Zaria has a memorable past worthy of being emulated in the field of Western education … (Mora, 1992).
It is no wonder that of all the Emirates in the Nineteen States of the North none has the number of educational institutions in Zaria. From Zaria through Jaji to Kaduna alone, all within Zazzau Emirate, there are no fewer than sixty-three (63) of mostly Federal Government owned Institutions of pioneer status with headquarters within the Emirate (Mora, 2018).
Perhaps ABU, Zaria, Barewa College, Zaria and the Kaduna Polytechnic, each pioneer in its speciality and located within the Emirate, among many others, couldn’t have been located in any other place than Zaria due to its centrality within the north. And again, going back to the words of the foundation Chairman –
… Islamic education, Zaria has a memorable past worthy of being emulated in the field of Western education…
ZEDA should therefore take the lead, plunge in and convene a summit of all the Emirates and Chiefdoms within the North towards the advancement or initiation of community-based educational endeavour the like of which ZEDA has heralded these past twenty-six (26) years.
Recommendation
All States in the North and the FCT should immediately set up a machinery towards the establishment of Drug Abuse Control Committees in each of their Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Implementation
The Drug Abuse Control Committee in each LGA to be headed by the Pharmacist in-charge of the General Hospital, or such other secondary healthcare provider facility in the LGA and to compose of the following members: NDLEA staff within the LGA; a police officer within the LGA; social worker within the Local Government Headquarters Secretariat; clergyman from the predominant religion; representative of the paramount traditional ruler within the LGA; representative from the secondary schools within the LGA.
The state governments of each of the Nineteen (19) Northern States and the FCT to make monthly budgetary allocation of funds for the operations of the committee.
Also, the States of the Nineteen (19) Northern States and the FCT should establish Drug-Free Clubs in every secondary school within their control.
All secondary schools to be directed to establish a Drug-Free Club with a very Senior Teacher in-charge; students to be encouraged to join these clubs, which would focus on propagating the menace of drug abuse to humans, especially those from the secondary school level; debates and quiz competitions to be organized amongst the various classes in the secondary schools in respect of the dangers of drug abuse in our societies and between schools within the LGA and the State.
Religious leaders should also clearly enlighten their fellow achievements of the religious implications and in the consequences both here and the hereafter in respect of the consumption of drugs of addiction.
– Being a paper presented by Prof. Ahmed Tijjani Mora, (mni) member, Board of Trustees of ZEDA on the occassion of the Zaria Education Development Association 26th annual public lecture for the 2018 Annual General Meeting at the Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar Assembly Hall, Ahmadu Bello Drive, Barewa College, Zaria.
Islamic religious leaders who are more in number in the north than those from other religious beliefs to clearly bring out the Qur’anic verses and prophetic traditions linking the consumption of medicines with addictive substances beyond therapeutic doses in an attempt to get “high” as being the same as consumption of alcohol that is equally prohibited from to Muslims;
(b) Sermons in the Mosques and Churches to be enunciated to the youths in respect of the consequences of the consumption of drugs of addiction to their health and what befalls them after death on the Day of Judgment.
4.2.5 Recommendation Number Four:
State Governments of the Nineteen (19) Northern States and the FCT should fund the Drug Abuse Control Committees adequately as a means of ensuring effective control of the committees.
Implementation Strategies:
(a) The 26th of June of every year as the International Day against Drug Abuse to be addressed by the Governors on State Television Stations to send the message across in clear language of the dangers and menace of drug abuse to members of the society, especially the youth;
(b) The various agencies and stakeholders within the states and the FCT to hold well articulated events on the 26th June of every year to include lectures, symposium, dramas and film shows in public places and Television Stations portraying the evil effects of the consumption of drugs of addiction;
(c) NDLEA, Ministries of Health, the Faculties of Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Sciences, Social Welfare Offices of each of the States of the North and the FCT to plan well ahead for the events to feature during the Drug Abuse Day Celebrations each year.
4.2.6 Recommendation Number Five:
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should intensify their efforts of demand a reduction of illicit drugs among the youths and provide conducive environment for the detoxification and rehabilitation of drug addicts.
Implementation Strategies:
(a) Operatives of NDLEA to continue their surveillance all over the country and intensify the destruction of farms where Cannabis is grown to reduce the availability of the weed to the youths;
(b) Custom and Immigration Officers to be provided with better logistics for the identification and seizure of illicit drugs at those in therapeutic formulations that are likely to pose a danger to the public in terms of addiction;
(c) The Rehabilitation Centres Operated by NDLEA within Neuropsychiatric Hospitals to be funded by the Federal Government appropriately towards discharging their responsibilities with maximum efficiency.
Finally, for pain relief, let us go back to Aspirin (ASA), which has been formulated as a powder, sustained released, parenteral, ointment, enteric coated, etc. beside being antipyretic, analgesic, antirhuematic, has been found to be useful in saving lives in Angina Pectoris, heart attack and blood clots, which could read to stroke migraines, etc.
As I have always argued, the very important discoveries to modern medicine – Anesthesia, Syringes and Antibiotics (another ASA), of course not forgetting the discovery and uses of vaccines and x-ray, should be the focus for all healthcare professionals to advance and not be bothered about the unethical uses of drugs.
The next challenge to modern healthcare is cures or vaccination for malaria, cancers, sickle cell and congenital conditions like autism, dwone syndrome, etc. Only time will tell.
END
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