Fortifying the Mind and Soul

An Awareness Seminar at Diyala University Confronting Addiction through Qur’anic and Psychological Analysis The Faculty of Basic Education at the University of Diyala – Department of Psychological Counselling and Educational Guidance, in cooperation with the Diyala Education Directorate and in coordination with the Continuing Education Division and the Media and Government Communication Division, organised an educational awareness seminar on (Addiction and drugs in light of the Holy Quran: a psychological interpretive analysis based on the objectives of preserving the mind and soul), with the participation and attendance of a number of teachers and students.
The seminar, presented by Dr. Rawa Rashid Hamid and Dr. Abir Rashid Hamid from the Diyala Education Directorate, aimed to raise community and academic awareness of the growing scourge of drugs, and to reinforce religious, psychological and behavioural rejection of this phenomenon. It also aimed to clarify the profound Qur’anic perspective on preserving the five necessities of life, especially the preservation of the mind and soul, and to strengthen the role of educational institutions in building a generation that is intellectually and psychologically immune to this scourge.
The symposium included discussions on several key topics, including the psychological and social causes of addiction, an interpretive analysis of Quranic verses that prohibit intoxicants and drugs and call for purification of the soul, as well as a review of the devastating impact of drugs on individuals, families and society, and mechanisms for early detection and appropriate therapeutic intervention.
The symposium included scientific presentations and constructive discussions by professors and students, which enriched the content presented. The symposium concluded with important recommendations, most notably the need to intensify joint symposiums and workshops between the university and educational and security agencies, the inclusion of drug prevention topics in school curricula and extracurricular activities, and the activation of the role of psychological and educational counsellors in schools and colleges to follow up on cases and monitor behavioural problems early on.
This seminar was organised in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations, specifically: Goal 3: Good health and well-being, as the seminar directly addresses the issue of addiction and drugs, which threaten public health and the psychological and physical well-being of individuals. Goal 4: Quality Education, through the role of educational institutions (the college and the Directorate of Education) in spreading awareness and knowledge and using education as an effective preventive tool. Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, by strengthening the role of academic and educational institutions in building a safe and stable society and combating drug-related crimes.