CAIRO — Ever since he declared jihad against drugs last month, Egyptian preacher Amr Khaled's call has been resonating across Arab countries with addicts reaching out for help.

"Although we still have two weeks to go, the campaign has already achieved more than the set goals," Mayyssa Mahmoud, an assistant professor at Cairo University's Faculty of Engineering and a campaign coordinator, told IslamOnline.net.

The "Stop Drugs…Change Your Life" was launched by the young Muslim preacher with the hope of helping 5,000 drug addicts across the Arab world.

The five-week campaign aims to fight drug use among youth and enlighten them about the negative effects of drugs on themselves, lives and countries.

Khaled, who ranked 62nd on Time magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people in 2007, has asked his huge fan base to declare jihad against dugs.

"This is not about drugs about rather being positive," he has said.

The young preacher tells volunteers that by helping addicts, they are actually doing the great deed of saving lives which is hailed by the Noble Qur'an.

Khaled usually cites the Qur'anic verse which reads: "Whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind."

 

 

Success

The "Stop Drugs…Change Your Life" campaign has proven very successful in his home country Egypt.

"We have welcomed in our centers five thousand people requesting drug addiction treatment," said Mahmoud.

"Some 500 of them have already started getting professional help through a number of drug rehabilitation treatment centers."

She said they have received more than 10,000 calls on their hotline from young addicts who want help.

Mahmoud noted that campaigns coordinators in other Arab countries have also reported similar successes.

The campaign has so far printed and distributed nearly 3.4 million posters and organized 56,420 promotion events in different Arab countries.

"People have been coming forward to sponsor the treatment of some addicts aging between 12 and 35," said Mahmoud.

"Some drug rehabilitation centers have even volunteered to treat some cases free of charge," she added.

"This campaign has brought to surface the true essence of takaful in Islam.

"Stop Drugs…Change Your Life" is the latest community service campaign championed by preacher Khaled.

His "Life-Makers" series of television lectures promoted proactive good deeds, self-help and hard work at school, in exercise and with charity.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has honored Khaled in recognition of his anti-smoking televised campaign after a large number of his audience heeded his calls to quit smoking.

 

(Source: IslamOnline.net)

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