IS SMOKING IN ISLAM HARAM?

IS SMOKING HARAM IN ISLAM???

Smoking is one of the things which have caused a lot of problems and harm these days and it has spread like wild fire. Before we discuss this topic in detail, we should know that Allah the Almighty has divided things in the world into two types:

1- good or permissible [al-tayyibaat, al-halaal], &

2- evil or prohibited [al-khabaa'ith, al-haraam], and

There is no third type. Quran :: Surah: 7 [al-A'raaf] :: Ayat: 157 "And He makes good things halaal for them and bad things haraam. ويحل لهم الطيبات ويحرم عليهم الخبائث" Quran :: Surah: 5 [al-Maida] :: Ayat: 90 “O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah ], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.يآيها الذين آمنوا إنما الخمر والميسر والأنصاب والأزلام رجز من عمل الشـيطان فاجتنبوه لعلكم تفلحون ”

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston, 1978, P. 686 The word intoxicant has three [3] meanings:

i. to induce, especially the effect of ingested alcohol.

ii. To stimulate or excite.

iii. To poison. The latter two meanings are very valid and applicable to nicotine. Considering this fact, smoking can either be permissible and good or prohibited and evil.

 Previous Ulamas used to give a Fatwa that smoking is Makrooh based on the knowledge that they had at that time. Today science has advanced and hence the Scholars have changed their opinions keeping in view the ill effects of smoking which have come to light recently.

According to latest Fatwas given by more than 700 Ulamas (Islamic Scholars – Doctorate), they say cigarette smoking is Haram based on the Qur-anic verse of surah: 2 [baqara] :: ayat: 195 “Do not make your own hands the cause of your own destruction. ولاتلقوا بأيديكم إلى التهلكة ”

1- Smoking is a Killer. Smoking is nothing but a form of slow suicide. It causes diseases like lung cancer, tuberculosis and heart diseases (just to mention a few). And we know that Allah forbids us from killing ourselves. Quran :: Surah: 17 [al-Isra] :: Ayat: 33 "And do not kill anyone which Allah has forbidden...ولا تقتلوا النفس التي حرم الله" Quran :: Surah: 2 [al-Baqara] :: Ayat: 195 "Do not make your own hands the cause of your own destruction. . ولاتلقوا بأيديكم إلى التهلكة " Quran :: Surah: 4 [al-Nisa] :: Ayat: 29 "Do not kill or destroy yourselves for verily God is most Merciful unto you.ولا تقتلوا أنفسكم إن الله كان بكم رحيما"

2- Smoking inflicts harm on non-smokers. It is scientifically proven that the exhaled smoke of the smoker is hazardous to non-smokers around him. Many people encounter breathing problems when they accidentally inhale smoke from someone’s pipe or cigarettes, especially people suffering from bronchial asthma. It is also proved medically that non-smokers are harmed when in the company of smokers (i.e. passive smoking). The smoking of parents has been linked to respiratory problems in children and crib death. It is also the cause of many devastating fires. Quran :: Surah: 33 [al-Ahzaab] :: Ayat: 58 "Those who cause harm to believing men and women without any reason do a great sin.والذين يؤذون المؤمنين والمؤمنات بغير ماكتسبوا فقد احتملوا بهتانا وإثما مبينا"

3- Smoking burns [waste] wealth. The amount of money a smoker spends on cigarette smoking in a period of 30 years is calculated to be Two Hundred Thousand Dollars or more. All this money is simply wasted (not including the money spent on smoker's health care). Quran :: Surah: 17 [al-Isra] :: Ayat: 26-27 ”Do not spend wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the devils.ولا تبذر تبذيرا، إن المبذرين كانوا إخوان الشياطين”

4- Smoking effects worship. The body is polluted by smoking. Hence smokers cannot pray until they have cleansed themselves. Quran :: Surah: 4 [al-Nisa] :: Ayat: 43 "O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of Janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body].ياآيها الذين آمنوا لا تقربوا الصلاة وأنتم سكارى حتى تعلموا ما تقولون ولا جنبا إلا عابري سبيل حتى تغتسلوا ” Everything that a smoker comes in contact with smell of cigarettes; His car, clothes, home, etc. Therefore, when a smoker prays in congregation he hurts his fellow humans with his smell as well as the angels. Muslim :: Book: 4 [Book of prayers] :: Hadith: 1147 The Prophet said: “Whoever has eaten from such greens as garlic, onions or leek should keep away from our mosque. Truly, the angels are harmed by what harms the offspring of Aadam.”