Islam Concepts

You know there are almost half of Muslims as well as the world’s population smoke cigarette and this trend is increasing day by day especially in youngsters and teenagers. The interesting thing is everyone knows that it is not good for their own health but they still smoking. Smoking is spreading like a forest’s fire. There are few countries already declared that cigarette smoking is the worst drug addiction problem for them and it is still growing in their men and women.

Now the question arises that “Is smoking haram or halal in Islam?”. Actually on this issue there are many fitwahs from various ulmah who said that cigarette smoking is haram. Previously they said that smoking cigarette is makruh but now most of them said that smoking is haram. There are many reasons to believe in that concept, I’ll come to these in a while but first I like to mention some of the things that prove scientifically that cigarette smoking is way more dangerous for us then our expectations.

Scientific reasons to avoid cigarette:

According to a leading health research institute of the world, WHO (World Health Organization), They said that smoking is really a part of these things as stated below. They proved these points that

• More than 1 million people who only die each year just because of cigarette smoking.
• Out of 95% of people who die each year due to lungs cancer is because of cigarette smoking.
• Out of 70% of people who die because of lungs disease known as Bronchitis is because of smoke cigarette.
• Smoking cigarette is nothing but smoke poisoning.

The chemicals in cigarette like most of the other drugs hits chemistry of nervous system, our brain and create dependence and lead to compulsive use.

Australian government publish a report in 1977 with name “Drug problem in Australia – An intoxicated society” and it stated that “It need to recognize that smoking is a form of drug dependence, but one with especially insidious characteristics.”

The former U.S. Surgeon General, C. Everett Coop, says, “smoking Cigarette is clearly identified as the chief preventable cause of death (more than 340,000 deaths per year in U.S.A.). In our society it is a major reason of many cases of cancer, heart trouble, chronic lung and respiratory diseases and other ailments. Smoking causes more illnesses and death than all the other drugs.”

Islamic proves that cigarette smoking is haram:

You may think at this point that cigarette is haram but if you still have doubt on this then here are some Islamic evidences that will tell you the fact.

In Islam hygiene and cleanliness are emphasize to the extent that it has been consider a part of Iman (faith). It is very well known fact that a smoker’s mouth continuously spreading smell, it is unclean “like a cigarette ash-tray.” Now please concentrate on these versus and hadiths and compare them to smoking, you may well understand that cigarette smoking is haram or halal.

In holy Quran, Allah Almighty says: “And forbid them what is bad.” – Surah Al-’Araf, 7:157

“0 ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling are abominate Satan’s handiwork. Eschew such abominations that ye may prosper.” -  Surah Al Ma’idah, 5:93

The word intoxicant has most likely three meanings here:

• To induce, especially the effect of ingested alcohol.
• To stimulate or excite.
• To poison.

The latter two meanings are very valid and applicable to nicotine.

Smoking is nothing but a form of slow suicide.

The Quran says:
“And slay not the life which God hath forbidden…” – Surah, Al-Isra, 17:33

“And make not your own hands contribute to your destruction.” – Surah, Al-Baqara, 2:195

“Nor kill or destroy yourselves for verily God hath been to you most Merciful.”    Surah, An-Nisa, 4:29

Prophet Mohammad said:
“Nor be hurt or injure others.” It is scientifically proven now that the exhaled smoke is hazardous to non-smokers around them. Even it is way more dangerous for his/her health then a person who is smoking at that time.

Also research shows us that the amount of money a smoker spends on cigarette smoking in a period of 30 years calculated approx Two Hundred Thousand Dollars. All this money is simply wasted, in this amount, they didn’t include the money spent on smoker’s health care.

Allah says:
“But squander not your wealth in the way of a spend thrift, verily spendthrifts are brothers of evils.” – Surah, Al-Isra, 17:26, 27

The body polluted by smoking. Hence smokers cannot pray until they have clean themselves.

According to Quran:
“0 you who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when you are drunken, till you know that which ye utter, nor when you are polluted save when journeying upon the road, till you have bathed.” – Surah, An-Nisa, 4:43

The Christians consider the human body a sacred trust given to man by God because it has the spirit breathed into it by God.

Even the Quran says
“So, when I have made him and have breathed unto him of My spirit, do ye fall down, prostrating yourselves unto him.” – Surah, Al-Hijr, 15:29.

Hence the physical body should not polluted or injured or destroyed in any way by smoking or taking of alcohol or any type of habit-forming drugs.

Hopefully now you understand that cigarette smoking is haram in Islam and our religion not allow us to do that. Its my humble request to all of my dear brothers to leave this habit. I have to admit at this stage that I were also used to of cigarette smoking for minimum 6 months when I was of just 18 years old but I quit smoking as I found no benefit of that. Trust me it is not very difficult to quit smoking if you have will, courage and complete dedication.

If you are a chain smoker then it is really hard to quit, as I have personal experience (I was not too much addicted but still had routine) but I’m damn serious you definitely can. you will feel uncomfortable in earlier days, little restlessness and you will feel that there is something missing in you but as the time passes almost 1-2 week you will OK with that situation. and then there will a time happen when you will laugh on yourself that hahahahahaha, OO man I done it. It is not too difficult as I imagined.

There is also a second part for you as well in which I will mention to you the causes, why people start cigarette smoking and If smoking is really haram then why not any of the Muslim country ban that? Very informative discussion there, so don’t miss to read that as well at  Is Smoking Haram or Halal In Islam part 2.