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HOWDRUGUSE
RUINED
NORTH AFRICA
by
Keith W. Stump
T
ODAY,
the waters of t he
Mediterranea n Se a
separate two vastly dif–
ferent worlds.
To the north of that great sea
lie the comparatively affluent,
industrialized nations of Eu–
rope. To the south líe the eco–
nomi ca lly poo r , ag ri c u ltur a l
countries of North Africa. The
contrasts b e twee n the two
regions are dramatic.
But many centuries ago the
positions of the two areas were
reversed!
Why?
Arab Golden Age
The early medieval period of west–
ern European history (A.D. 500 to
1000) was a period of intellectual
darkness and barbarity. It is com–
monly known as the Dark Ages.
But few realize that while
Europe lay in darkness, the Arab
world was experiencing an unprece–
dented
Golden Agel
Arab genius
kept al ight the lamp of learning and
cu lture. And that lamp burned
brightly!
This Golden Age was epitomized
by the magnificence of Bagbdad,
the Bagbdad of the well-known
Arabian N ights.
Capital of the
vast Moslem world, Baghdad
(in what is [raq today) was
the richest city on earth. But
the weal tb and culture it
exemplified was not con–
fined solely to the East.
Virtually all provinces of
the Moslem realm Aour–
ished, including North
Africa.
The courts of North
Afri can poten tates
were fi lled with poets
May 1982
and mus•c•ans, the colleges with
learned men of science, mathemat–
ics, philosophy and medicine. North
Africa's cities were centers of cul–
ture and learning. Some of tbe most
beautiful monuments of Islamic art
and architecture were created dur–
ing this period.
What Went Wro ng?
But eventually the Aame died. Tbe
Golden Age of Arab culture passed
into history .
Today, North Africa is but
a s hadow o f its o ld sel f .
Deserted, sand-swept cities,
crumbling palaces and
decayi ng shrines and
masques are often the
only relics of the civi-
li zation of medieval times.
What went wrong? Many
factors were involved in
this decUne: growing cor–
ruption, mediocre rulers,
infight-
ings and tribal wars. Among the
people at large, the early vigor had
degenerated into indolence and
softness.
Amid this picture of social deca–
dence and degeneration we discover
the beginnings of the widespread use
of the drug has bisb. In so rn e
respects, the use of this drug took a
greater toll on society than any dis–
ease epidemic or war ever could
have!
Way o f Life
Hashish (hasheesh) is the Arabic
name for various narcotic drug
preparations of the true hemp plant
(Cannabis sativa).
The word means
"dried herb." In Morocco and
other parts of North Africa it is
called
kif
Hashish can be smoked, chewed,
eaten in a confection or drunk for
its intoxicating effects.
Tbere is no evidence in the early
centuries of Islam-including the
Golden Age-of the use of hashish
among the population at large. Ear–
ly lslamic physicians had become
acquainted with its tberapeutic
uses, but its role was restricted to
medicine.
Gradually, however, the use of
hashish shifted from the sphere of
pharmaceutical use to that of
social recreation.
It
came to be
consumed for its pleasure-pro–
ducing effects. Many began
whi ling away the hours in its
inOuence, lulled into a
delightful but unproduc–
tive drowsiness. Its use
achieved rapid popu–
larity.
There is no di rect
ment ion of hashish in
th e Koran , Islam's
holy book. This fact
was often cited by
users- and
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