Saturday, February 16, 2019

The Youth and 'Synthetic' Pleasures


The Youth of the Ummah in Peril

Liberal, lawless practices of the modern era, under the influence of Westerners and Americans, mainly affect young people. If this fringe of society of non-believers does not care so much about misdeeds, damage and other major problems caused by globalization, the youth of the Ummah, on the other hand, cannot and must not remain indifferent to its influence on their way of life, their way of behaving. And especially the harmful effect it causes to their faith and piety. This is disturbing.

The Youth's Mission

Now, the youth is the future. For all, without exception. Nations, countries, organizations, communities, family. All depend on the youth of today to take over for continuity. The same goes for Muslim youth, the youth of the Ummah in the four corners of the earth. This youth has a mission. To take over from the elders. To continue to propagate the Sahih al Islam (true Islam/ true teachings of Islam) in righteousness. To build educational centres for children and adults. But above all, to fraternize with members of other communities. For it is quite clear, according to Qur’anic verses and Hadiths, that to have respect for one’s neighbour is piety.

It is through this respect for everyone that this youth, the pillar of tomorrow, can build solid foundations for the Ummah to live in peace, serenity, tranquillity, and harmony. However, the youth of this century is going through difficult times with the rise of globalization that touches all corners of the world.

The Youth's Embarrassment

This situation really embarrasses the youth of the Ummah because they seem to be caught between two fires: (1) the principle of Islam which makes the clear-cut clear difference between the lawful (Halal) and the unlawful (Haram); (2) The boundless freedom in all matters of the unbelievers in this temporal world.


The Muslim youth feel embarrassed. Really! But, we should then ask this question: Where is the embarrassment for this Muslim youth? A simple example, to have fun during the end of year festivities, parties are organized within private companies and even in departments of the public sector. Everyone makes a point of being present, etiquette obliges them to do so. The youth of the Ummah, if they are not strong in their faith (Iman), are easily influenced by colleagues to take a small glass (of alcoholic drink), to perform a few steps of dance, to participate in totally illegal acts. And other stunts that jeopardize the very faith of this youth of the Ummah. This is the embarrassment of the youth of the Ummah. This is the embarrassment they must face: either they follow the precepts of Islam, or they fall into the bath of illicit practices that their non-Muslim contacts invite them to try. And as soon as they get a taste of it all, they get trapped, and they cannot find a way out! And then, they are ashamed of their Muslim faith, and they begin to behave like non-Muslims.

Drugs and other Intoxicants are Killing our Youth

I tell you frankly, here in Mauritius, in our little island, drug is destroying everything in its passage. Young people from all communities (especially young Muslims) must be sensitized against drugs. We must not let drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and games of chance finish our young people. We must know how it destroys our community. Allah (swt) says in the Holy Quran: “O you who believe, intoxicants and gambling, idolatrous practices, and [divining with] arrows are repugnant acts- Satan’s doing- shun them so that you may prosper. With intoxicants and gambling, Satan seeks only to incite enmity and hatred among you, and to stop you remembering God and prayer. Will you not give them up?” (Al-Maida 5: 91-92).

It’s a vicious circle that traps young people to kill them. And it starts with a little bit of alcohol and cigarettes. Alcohol gives them drunkenness and a feeling of emptiness and disconnection with this world that seems to them full of problems. And the cigarette gives them a sense of freedom and masculinity. But unfortunately, it’s not just the young and matured men who are victims of cigarettes and other intoxicants. Girls and ladies are also caught in the same trap. To feel equal to men, they do not hesitate to behave like men, even if it is to follow them in the worst of vices.

And then, a little piece of cigarette becomes a cigarette, then a pack of cigarettes and much more. Not getting enough pleasure in the cigarette, the youth falls voluntarily or involuntarily (through the traps of their groups of friends and others) into alcoholic drink. A little glass becomes a bottle, until this youth becomes drunkards and addicted to the drink. The same goes for drugs! Wanting a little “Nissa” (pleasure), they taste drugs. Of course, this youth is also trapped by their so-called groups of friends, and thus they (also) fall into drug by treachery.

SYNTHETIC DRUGS

Whether voluntarily or involuntarily, youth is broken by drugs because it is addictive and deadly. A small dose of the drug, such as Cannabis / Marijuana / Gandia then becomes a high dose, and not being strong enough for the addict, he buys other stronger drugs, such as heroin and now synthetic drugs.

I make an urgent appeal to the authorities and the government. Many of our youth who are in schools are taking synthetic drugs and other substances. Even students who are 12 to 13 years old and have graduated from elementary school and who are freshly integrating new colleagues are victims of drugs and other intoxicants. They start smoking cannabis.

The youth of the Ummah also enter the drug caravan. Nowadays, synthetic drugs are ravaging everywhere in every nook and cranny of the island; it is such a poison which is finishing our youth.

From the research I’ve done, I’ve learned that synthetic drugs are worse than heroin. It is true that the authorities did a good job - a lot of drug seizures of all kinds. What I hope is that the cleansing work is done well, and that it is really genuine, and that all this is not a staging to make believe that the work is being done well.

Consider the case where the government is really concerned by the harmful effects of drugs on our society and especially on our young people. If the authorities had not seized all these drugs, what would happen to our youth? In the 80s, the Brown Sugar was wreaking havoc and a wrap was selling at Rs. 10. Today it costs Rs.250. An addict must find Rs. 1000 to pay for his daily doses. For this, there are several cases of violent robberies, every week, as well as crimes.

Crime is on the rise nowadays. Murders. Robbery with violence. Many people who have been victims of violent robberies live in fear. They point out that they are no longer safe, even at home. The synthetic drug, from what I have learned has appeared on the local market since 2013. The product comes from China. It is mixed with other ingredients. Dosage and ingredients vary by country.

In Mauritius, synthetic cannabinoids (Synthetic Cannabis) are used. There are people who say that the synthetic drug also contain anti-rat products. Based on the research I have done, specific dry leaves are added to a solvent. If you put anti-rat products in it, then it’s death guaranteed! In Mauritius, this mixture is done in a traditional way. You can imagine that a small pouch costs just Rs. 100! Teens can buy it with their pocket money because the price is too affordable. And if they run out of money, then they can easily raise that sum (Rs. 100) between five friends (each contributing Rs. 20) and buy that deadly product. With one or up to seven puffs.

According to a report from the Idrice Goomany Centre in Plaine-Verte, people who come to the centre to treat their addiction to heroin, out of 100 people, 70 have tasted synthetic drugs. You imagine ! Plaine-Verte is a purely Muslim region. It’s unfortunate that even children and adults are caught in the trap of synthetic drugs!

The effect of drugs seems ephemeral. Although it gives young people a brief moment of pleasure, but its after-effects are worst and numerous. When they emerge from that state, they are in a state of deprivation which drives them to go and get some more. It’s a global phenomenon and the drug lords know this very well. They know that those who consume these drugs will automatically become addicted to these substances and then they take advantage of this situation to make money in thousands / trillions.

Serious study needs to be done on the reasons and circumstances that drive young people to use drugs. Not just synthetic drugs, but all drugs. I read in a newspaper where there was mentioned the case of a 9-year-old child who used synthetic drugs. His mother was on methadone and his older brother took drug shots (injection). Ponder over this, a 9 years old? See how our society, our children are withering!

As time is running out, I stop here for today. Insha-Allah, I will come back on this very important subject next Friday. May Allah help us save our young people from all the calamities and traps of globalization. May Allah help us to educate them in effective ways and that drugs and other ills become just a bad memory - though very difficult but not impossible. 

O Allah! Our Ummah! Our Ummah! Protect the Ummah from Your beloved Muhammad (pbuh) against all dangers. Protect its faith, its piety and its youth against the pangs of Satan. O Allah, protect us, and guide us always in the right way, and help us to help our brethren in the best possible ways, Insha-Allah, Ameen.

----Friday Sermon of 15 February 2019~10 Jamadi’ul Aakhir 1440 AH delivered by Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius.