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