Permissibility of khat

Asalamualaykum,
recently came across a study that most Yemeni men use khat, a plant that carries a stimulant that although mild, is scientifically classified as a drug that is similar in structure to amphetamines. Is this drug considered permissible? If haram, how do zaydi scholars approach this problem?

 

Wa Alaikum Salam,

This question was posed to The respected scholar, al-Ḥujjah Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīm al-Ḥouthi.

سؤال رقم 210:س2: ما حكم أكل القات ؟ مع انه مضر على حسب البحوث الطبية؟
الجواب:
الظاهر أن البحوث الطبية غيرمحكمة وليست بحجة والحق إن كان الضرر مقطوعا به وكان معلوما بين الناس فلا يجوز للإ نسان ممارسته وإن أشكل وشهد على ضرره عدلان بأنه ضار بهذا الإنسان فلا يجوز له ممارسته , فإن سال عنه الأطباء وبحثوا عن خصائصه بحوثا طبية بعيدة بأنه مضر فهذا ليس بحجة لأن أصحابنا لم يعللوا على الخواص إنما هو معمول على الظواهر ذكره في الفصول أما بالنسبة لمن يستعمل القات وهو ضعيف العقل أوفيه أمراض نفسية فمتفق على ضرره .

(Q210): What is the ruling on eating qat, given that medical research says it is harmful?
Answer:
The obvious is that medical research is not conclusive and does not serve as evidence. The truth is that if the harm is certain and known among people, then it is not permissible for a person to engage in it. If it is doubtful, and it is reported by a trustworthy person to be harmful to someone, then it is also not permissible for them to practice it. If doctors are asked about it and they conduct distant medical studies indicating that it is harmful, this does not serve as proof, because our scholars did not base rulings on properties but on apparent effects, as mentioned in the Fusul. As for those who use qat and are mentally weak or have psychological illnesses, it is agreed upon that it is harmful.