‘Smoking: A Social Poison’

Muhammad al-Jibaly
Copyright © 1996 by Al-Qur’an was-Sunnah Society of North America
All Rights Reserved.

1. Introduction
   1. Discovery of Tobacco
   2. Smoking among Muslims
2. Definintion
3. Evidence for the Prohibition of Smoking
   1. Harm to the Deen
   2. Harm to the Human Body
   3. Harm to the Mind and Will Power
   4. Harm to the Environment
   5. Harm to the Property
   6. Moral Decadence
   7. Evil Substance
   8. Resembling the People of the Fire
   9. Bad Example
   10. Hostility Toward the Good People
   11. Low Self-esteem
   12. Scholars’ Verdict
4. Warnings
5. Treating the Disease of Smoking
6. References
7. Footnotes

Introduction

Discovery Of Tobacco

Tobacco was discovered by the Spanish sailors on the American shores at about 1500 CE (900 AH). Since its discovery, the epidemic of smoking has continued to spread all over the world. In our times, one seldom finds a house not afflicted by it.

As early as the Seventeenth Century, the European countries realized the dangers of smoking and fought against it Laws were ordained in England, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, and other countries, prohibiting smoking and punishing violators.

Nowadays, the Western countries continue their attempts to protect their peoples from the harms of smoking. They employ media means, ordain laws and regulations, and apply other methods to discourage people from smoking. Because of that, the rate of smokers has declined to a certain degree in those countries.

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http://qss.org/articles/smoking.html

Levels of Toxins in Tobacco Products Used in the UK

Objective: This study examined the constituents of smokeless

tobacco products available in the UK and compared them

with products available in India, Sweden, and the USA

Methods: Seven UK brands of smokeless tobacco, including

a tooth cleaning powder, and four international brands of

smokeless tobacco were tested for a range of toxins and

known carcinogens, such as tobacco specific N-nitrosamines

(TSNA), as well as nicotine availability.

Results: Ten of the 11 brands tested had detectable levels of

tobacco specific nitrosamines, which are proven carcinogens,

and levels varied 130-fold. All had detectable levels of

benzo(a)pyrene, another proven carcinogen (with around

175-fold variation) and several toxic metals (with nearly

150-fold variation). Nicotine availability varied in the UK

products from 0.1 mg/g to 63.2 mg/g. All the tobacco

products tested are likely to be hazardous to users’ health,

but the data indicate that it should be possible to reduce key

toxins to non-detectable levels.

Conclusions: Smokeless tobacco products should be regulated

and standards set for maximum levels of toxins and

carcinogens. Read more Levels Toxins in Tobacco

Still not as much as the UK…the cost of cigarettes.

I have always been surprised at the cost of a packet of 20 here in the UK. I believe it stands at

Most smokers say 1,000 yen a pack could be deterrent – Japan Times

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

KYOTO (Kyodo) About 90 percent of smokers — including heavy smokers — said
they would consider quitting if the price of a pack of cigarettes reached
as high as 1,000 yen [US$8.25], according to a survey released Monday.

On the other hand, the heavy smokers among the roughly 600 people surveyed
would not be inspired to quit by warnings about health risks or fines for
smoking in public places.

The survey was conducted by a team of researchers led by Takanori Ida, a
professor of applied economics in the Kyoto University graduate school.

A pack of cigarettes generally costs about 300 yen, depending on the
brand.

“Raising cigarette prices by not small but large margins would be
effective to inspire people to quit smoking,” Ida said.

He said the more smokers are dependent on nicotine, the higher the
priority they tend to put on price.

The survey results indicate that raising the alarm about the health risk
is somewhat effective in getting those who are not heavy smokers to
consider quitting.

But heavy smokers were unmoved by health risks or fines.

And yet half of them said they would quit if the price of a pack of
cigarettes were more than 700 yen and 90 percent said they would do so if
it was 1,000 yen.

Higher prices were also found to inspire lighter smokers to quit.

Source: Japan Times’

A copy of a price comparison from the Tobacco Manufacturers Association shows just how much a UK packet of 20 costs. At £5.23 its the highest in Europe and still not deterrent. You could put £5.23 towards your weekly fruit shopping. No?

Betel Nut…not Just for South Asians

BETEL NUT
An Essay by Stephen Fowler

 

Maybe you’re an aging speed freak, too paranoid and out-of-touch to score the hard stuff anymore. Maybe you’re a khaki preppy looking for an alternative to espresso. Maybe you’re the hippie type, optimistically attracted to a multicultural lift. Or maybe you just like to salivate.

However you kick it, betel is the ticket.

The ‘Shisha’ Craze

With the ‘Smokefree’ ban coming in to force there has been a lot of concern from the Edgware road community of shisha bars. Edgware Road famous for its restaurants, shisha and hookah lounges will now have to seek alternatives to their longstanding social smoking tradition. Many businesses might lose custom due to the ban however this does not seem to deter some people here in Tower Hamlets from opening up Shisha lounges or including it on the menu.

On the way home this evening I that a very large venue is opening up on the corner of Mile End and Burdett Road. Where the ‘Purple’ nightclub used to reside there is now ‘Hookah’. With its red sign and clubby feel how does this venue escape the ban?

A quick guide to the smokefree law

The new law is being introduced to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

Key points are:

• From 1 July 2007 it will be against the law to smoke in virtually all enclosed and substantially enclosed public places and workplaces. See below for definitions.
• Public transport and work vehicles used by more than one person will also need to be smokefree.
• No-smoking signs will have to be displayed in all smokefree premises and vehicles.
• Staff smoking rooms and indoor smoking areas will no longer be allowed, so anyone who wants to smoke will have to go outside.
• Managers of smokefree premises and vehicles will have legal responsibilities to prevent people from smoking.
• If you are uncertain where you can or can’t smoke, just look for the no-smoking signs or ask someone in charge.

Penalties and fines for breaking the smokefree law

If you don’t comply with the new smokefree law, you will be committing a criminal offence. The fixed penalty notices and maximum fine for each offence are:

• Smoking in smokefree premises or work vehicles: a fixed penalty notice of £50 (reduced to £30 if paid in 15 days) imposed on the person smoking. Or a maximum fine of £200 if prosecuted and convicted by a court.
• Failure to display no-smoking signs: a fixed penalty notice of £200 (reduced to £150 if paid in 15 days) imposed on whoever manages or occupies the smokefree premises or vehicle. Or a maximum fine of £1000 if prosecuted and convicted by a court.
• Failing to prevent smoking in a smokefree place: a maximum fine of £2500 imposed on whoever manages or controls the smokefree premises or vehicle if prosecuted and convicted by a court. There is no fixed penalty notice for this offence.

Local councils will be responsible for enforcing the new law in England.

A telephone line (0800 587 166 7) will also be in operation from 1 July 2007 to enable members of the public to report possible breaches of the law. This information will be passed to local councils to follow-up as appropriate.

Definition of enclosed and substantially enclosed

Premises will be considered ‘enclosed’ if they have a ceiling or roof and (except for doors, windows or passageways) are wholly enclosed either on a permanent or temporary basis.
Premises will be considered ’substantially enclosed’ if they have a ceiling or roof, but have an opening in the walls, which is less than half the total area of the walls. The area of the opening does not include doors, windows or any other fittings that can be opened or shut.

Businesses and organisations should contact their local council if they require further guidance on whether their premises are ‘enclosed’ or ’substantially enclosed’. (http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/what-do-i-do/quick-guide.html)

World No Tobacco Day 2007

I thought I’d point everyone in the right direction concerning WNTD 2007. As the website tends to be long and complicated here are some links taking you straight to the resources!

World No Tobacco Day What is all about?

And some resources that can be downloaded.

The emphasis this year is on smokefree enviroments and its a great way for us to capitalise on the Smoke Free England Ban and publicise local activity. We will be working with East London Mosque in our clinics that day. Alongside this CR-UK have a mobile dental cscreening taking place, to complement the exciting oral health promotion work taking place that day.

The Innovative Cardiac Rehabilitation Group

Dr Haque and I were invited to see this amazing piece of community based work. Combining both the healthy lifestyle and self management appraoches that are quite popular in Tower Hamlets, the scheme has got heart bypass patients up and running and visiting the gym on a regular basis.

When Rasheda the Health Advocate invited us along, I was expecting the usual meet and greet and we’ll put it in writing scenario. But, what I saw there was something that works and people are prepared to put time and effort in to it. Winning the NHS ‘Innovative projects’ Award also helps!

We entered the session while everyone had there pulse, blood pressure and blood glucose level checked. While the nurses did their administration and pressure checks, the gentlemen took care of their own blood glucose levels and had them recorded.

The Cardiac Rehab team provide a unique after care program for people with heart bypass operations and get them back on the road to fitness. The group comprised of ten Bangladeshi men of ages between 40 to 70 years. Most of these men had diabetes prior to and after the bypass operations. I was surprised at how young some of the men were who had bypass operations as well as managing diabetes.

As this was a ‘phase 3′ group the patients had to be supervised. Two Nurses and an Advocate from Cardiac Rehab and a Fitness Instructor from Healthy Lifestyles (possibly funded by the Local Area Partnership, PCT and GLA) were on hand.

After talking Rasheda I found out that ‘phase 3′ becomes ‘phase 4′ and patients start using the main gym along with everyone else.

The sessions are good fun and judging by the enthusiasm of the eldest patient there, (who was also the fittest!) moving along to some old Bengali classic tunes and leading a healthy life, the scheme is a success!

The Bangladeshi Stop Tobacco Project has been asked to run a few sessions with the tobacco chewers that attend. And I think it will develop in to an interesting partnership.

Paan chewing in the news

An interesting piece that was in the news a couple of days ago. It’s a small step towards identifying the need to help people give up both chewing paan and paan with tobacco.
Council targets tobacco spitters – BBC News Saturday, 5 May 2007

The initiative is particularly aimed at chewers of paan [Photo cutline]

People who spit in the street will be forced to clean up or face an £80
fine, police in north London have said.

The clampdown is particularly aimed at chewers of paan, a tobacco
leaf-based mixture, which authorities blame for staining pavements in
central Wembley.

Posters and leaflets are being handed out warning spitting is “unhygienic”
and an “act of anti-social behaviour”.

“Paan damages walls and pavements and costs taxpayers thousands of pounds
a year to clean,” said Ch Insp Raj Kohli.

Dirty pavements

Paan spittle hotspots are Ealing Road and part of the High Road near St
Johns Road, according to Brent Council.

“This sort of anti-social behaviour has to stop if Wembley wants to
become the iconic landmark of London it has all the potential to be“

Ch Insp Raj Kohli

“Spitting leaves the pavements looking dirty and unpleasant and there has
been quite a lot of local concern, particularly in health terms,” said
council officer John McSwan.

“The initiative is particularly aimed at people spitting ‘paan’ which
leave stains on pavements which are extremely difficult to remove,” he
said.

Council officers will join Wembley Central police officers to help
identify spitters and take part in spittle clean-up operations.

Local paan retail outlets have received information packs and advised
about the forthcoming enforcement activity.

Police said those caught spitting, which also includes chewing gum, would
be given the option of cleaning up their spittle or receiving an £80
penalty notice.

“This sort of anti-social behaviour has to stop if Wembley wants to become
the iconic landmark of London it has all the potential to be,” said Mr
Kohli.
Full Story

What is Paan? South Asian Style

A lot of people ask us about what paan is, what it consists of and what it looks like. Paan is chewed by South Asians and it can have tobacco added to it. My aim here is to distinguish the different types of mixtures that are chewed by the Bangladeshi community in Tower Hamlets.

Examples of other Smoke less tobacco products are here: Smoking and Cancer Notes
These cover a broad range of cultures and countries showing that tobacco is not just a South Asian Thing.

Paan and Tobacco in Tower Hamlets

The first picture shows how a ‘paan quid’ is prepared by a Bengali lady. The second illustrates an assortment of fillings for a ‘paan quid’.

These are the typical images you would see in and around Tower Hamlets Bangladeshi community. If were to be invited to Bangladeshi household for lunch or dinner chances are a ‘paan daan’ (paan tray) will be brought after the meal. And if you happen to attend a Bangladeshi wedding the ‘nikah’ or ‘akth’ ceremony is said over a ornately decorated paan assortment provided by the brides mother.

The products commonly used in Tower Hamlets are; the paan leaf or betel leaf, areca nut or ‘betel nut’(chopped up) This is then accompanied by lime paste (‘chun’ or ‘chunna’) and tobacco leaf. The tobacco products used are sweet fragrant tobacco or the dry cured tobacco leaf. The sweet tobacco has a strong rose or camphor fragrance and can be bought at local grocery shops and cost as little as £0.40p. The dry leaf, looks very pale and can also be purchased from the shops. A 1kg packet can be bought for less than £5 or brought over by relatives from Bangladesh.

Tobacco Use, Halal or Haram?

I asked the Sheikh during our meeting at the East London Mosque what the majority opinion was on smoking and tobacco use. He highlighted the that new generation of Muslims regard it as haram and not the disliked ‘makruh’ opinion that was popular among my clients. As more research has surfaced with regards to the harmful nature of tobacco and it is akin to ‘committing suicide’ tobacco use therefore is haram.

I’ve added here a some Islamic scholarly responses on tobacco use and whether it is halal or haram.

Is Smoking Permitted? Is it a Munkar?
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, SunniPath Academy Teacher

In the Reliance, Sh. Nuh translated a fatwa stating that smoking cigarettes is haram because it is like committing suicide on oneself due to the fact that doctors have come out and said that smoking does kill. What about smoking the Hookah (the smoking device found in most Arab countries)? Is there an opinion on that specifically? The Hookah has been around much longer than cigarettes and some classical scholars may have commented on it. I’m trying to understand if there is a difference between cigarettes and the hookah, either by the tobacco that’s being used, or how it works. Is it haram, makruh, etc to use such a device?

Walaikum assalaam,

Smoking is differed upon among scholars, and the ruling for hookahs follows that of smoking. The opinion mentioned in the Reliance is also taken by many major Hanafis in our times and in the past. This is certainly the more precautious opinion, and seems to make sense both socially and individually.

HOWEVER, other great scholars still hold that smoking is disliked and not impermissible. While one may not agree with them, their reasoning is has legal grounding and is certainly not baseless. Among such scholars are major Hanafis of India and Pakistan, who say that the actual act of smoking is disliked (makruh tanzihan) unless grave harm is feared from it in one’s specific case. They are well aware of the medical evidence, and take it into consideration in their ruling. I heard this opinion, for example, from Mufti Mahmoud Usmani (Allah preserve him), whose knowledge, wisdom and understanding where eye-opening.

NOW, one may not follow this opinion, but it opens a difference of opinion in the issue, which means that it is no longer obligatory for us as individuals to forbid the evil if one sees someone smoking, though, given one’s belief and the direction religious caution and worldly considerations point, it would be recommended and praiseworthy to advise such smokers to desist, out of nasiha (advice). Faraz Rabbani.’
Further Scholarly views relating to the Islamic perspective of Tobacco use

 

Excerpts from the Opinions of Muslim Scholars

Concerning the Islamic Ruling on Smoking

http://www.emro.who.int/Publications/HealthEdReligion/Smoking/Excerpts.htm

In the following pages we present a summary of each fatwa, or religious opinion, given by highly esteemed religious scholars in respect of the Islamic ruling on smoking. This section is followed by the full text of each fatwa to enable the reader to follow the reasoning used by the scholars in arriving at these conclusions.

Islamic Ruling on Smoking

It has become abundantly clear that, sooner or later, smoking, in whichever form and by whichever means, causes extensive health and financial damage to smokers. It is also the cause of a variety of diseases. Consequently, and on this evidence alone, smoking would be forbidden and should in no way be practiced by Muslims. Furthermore, the obligation to preserve one’s health and wealth, as well as that of society as a whole, and medical evidence now available on the dangers of smoking, further support this view.

Sheikh Gadul Haq Ali Gadul Haq

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar

Having read the several medical reports on the effects of smoking and the risks it poses to health and to society, I would say that it is absolutely forbidden (haram). Smokers should stop smoking and non- smokers should never take up the habit.

Dr Abdul Galil Shalabi

Member, Islamic Research Academy

The Islamic ruling which one feels most happy about and which would leave our consciences clear is that smoking is haram. It is not wholesome due to its foul taste, bad smell and the serious health risks it causes.

Dr Hamid Jamie,

Former Secretary of Al-Azhar University

Consultant, Islamic Fiqh Encyclopedia, Kuwait

Now that medical experts and specialists have settled this issue, the general ruling on smoking would range from haram to censurable, bordering on haram. The same ruling would apply to trading in tobacco and tobacco products. Those who wish to trade in tobacco products ought to be aware of the consequences of their action.

Professor Zakaria al-Birry

Chairman, Islamic Sharia Department

Faculty of Law, Cairo University

Member, Islamic Research Academy

Member, Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee

Whether smoking is ruled to be haram or censurable, fighting it is certainly supported and approved in Islamic law, because, as a general rule, Muslims are urged to preserve and safeguard all aspects of their physical, mental, spiritual and economic health and well-being.

Sheikh Attia Saqr

Member, Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee

Member, Islamic Research Academy 

Sooner or later, all forms of smoking are bound to cause illness and disease. Most serious of these are heart diseases and cancer of the respiratory system and the urinary tracts. Smoking also involves wasting money. Accordingly, smoking, from the Islamic point of view, is haram, and people should, by virtue of their religious obligations as well as common sense, refrain from it.

Sheikh Mustafa Muhammad al-Hadidi al-Tayr

Member, Islamic Research Academy

Since reliable religious and medical authorities have unanimously judged smoking and drug taking harmful and wasteful to the human body, mind and soul, and that they are an abuse of one’s health and wealth, the Islamic ruling could only be that they are haram. All those who import, trade in or use these substances, whether in small or large quantities, should be liable to the appropriate religious and legal penalties.

Sheikh Abdullah al-Mishad

Member, Islamic Research Academy

Chairman, Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee

Since the damage caused by smoking to human life is so evident, there is no doubt that it is haram.

Dr Ahmad Omar Hashim

Chairman, Hadith Studies Department

Faculty of Theology, Al-Azhar University

Based on available evidence, we can categorically say that smoking is haram, and that it is the duty of all Muslims to fight this harmful and deadly habit.

Dr Al-Husayni Hashim (deceased)

Deputy Rector, Al-Azhar University

In view of the harm caused by tobacco, growing, trading in and smoking of tobacco are judged to be haram. The Prophet PBUH is reported to have said, “Do not harm yourselves or others”. Furthermore, tobacco is unwholesome and God says in the Quran that the Prophet PBUH enjoins upon them that which is good and pure and forbids them that which is unwholesome.

Permanent Committee of Academic Research and Fatwa, Saudi Arabia

Abdul-Aziz bin Baz, Chairman

Abdul-Razzaq Afifi, Vice-President

Abdullah bin Ghadian, Member 

Abdullah bin Qa’oud, Member

http://www.emro.who.int/Publications/HealthEdReligion/Smoking/Excerpts.htm

 

 

 

 

Smoking: A Social Poison

Muhammad al-Jibaly
Copyright © 1996 by Al-Qur’an was-Sunnah Society of North America
All Rights Reserved.

1. Introduction
   1. Discovery of Tobacco
   2. Smoking among Muslims
2. Definintion
3. Evidence for the Prohibition of Smoking
   1. Harm to the Deen
   2. Harm to the Human Body
   3. Harm to the Mind and Will Power
   4. Harm to the Environment
   5. Harm to the Property
   6. Moral Decadence
   7. Evil Substance
   8. Resembling the People of the Fire
   9. Bad Example
   10. Hostility Toward the Good People
   11. Low Self-esteem
   12. Scholars’ Verdict
4. Warnings
5. Treating the Disease of Smoking
6. References
7. Footnotes