Islamic views on tobacco
The Islamic views on tobacco vary by region. Though tobacco or smoking in general is not explicitly mentioned in the
For many Muslims, the legal status of smoking has changed during recent years, and numerous fatwas, including from notable authorities such as
Fatwas condemning smoking have been issued in
Malcolm X said in his autobiography that "the smoking evil wasn't invented in Prophet Muhammad's days—if it had been, I believe he would have banned it."[6]
History
The earliest fatwa regarding smoking was issued in Morocco in 1602. Following the introduction of tobacco to the kingdom in 1598, King Ahmad al-Mansur sought guidance from religious scholars in Fez. The kingdom's Grand Mufti and the Wali of Sila both ruled that smoking was forbidden in Islam. This ruling failed to have much effect on tobacco use in the kingdom, leading the Mufti to issue a second ruling forbidding its use, as the use of all "intoxicants and harmful substances" is forbidden in Islam. This categorical prohibition was unsuccessful, and the Mufti and the other scholars who joined him in his ruling were either killed by a mob angry at this ruling or fled the country.[4]: 13–15
In recent years, tobacco fatwas (Islamic legal pronouncements) have been issued due to health concerns.
The
- “Don't throw yourself into danger by your own hands...” (Al Baqarah 2:195)[3]
- “You may eat, drink, but not waste” (Al-A‘râf 7:31)[7]
- "Do not kill yourselves for God Almighty is most merciful to you" (An-Nisa 4:29)[8]
Surveys and studies have produced conflicting results on tobacco use among Muslims. A 2002 survey in Pakistan found that observant Muslims tend to avoid smoking.[9] A 2003 study of young Muslim Arab-Americans found that Islamic influences were correlated with some diminished smoking.[10] Conversely, an Egyptian study from 2003 found that knowledge of an anti-smoking fatwa did not reduce smoking.[11] Data from the World Health Organization found the prevalence of smoking was increasing overall in majority Islamic countries as of 2000.[4]
The prominent scholar
The reported juristic disagreement among Muslim scholars on the ruling concerning smoking, since its appearance and spread, is not usually based on differences between legal proofs, but on the difference in the verification of the cause on which the ruling is based. They all agree that whatever is proved to be harmful to the body and mind is prohibited, yet they differ whether this ruling applies to smoking. Some of them claimed that smoking has some benefits, others assured that it had few disadvantages compared to its benefits, whereas a third group maintained that it had neither benefits nor bad effects. This means that if scholars had been certain about the harmfulness of smoking, then they would undoubtedly have considered it prohibited.[…]
Second: Our inclination to consider smoking prohibited does not mean that it is as grave as major sins like adultery, drinking alcohol or theft. In fact, prohibited matters in Islam are relative; some of them are minor prohibitions whereas others are major, and each has its own ruling. The major sins, for example, have no expiation other than sincere repentance. However, the minor sins can be expiated by the Five Prayers, the
Fatwas ruling that smoking is impermissible have been issued by sheikhs of all four Sunni schools of
By country
Egypt
In 2000, the
Indonesia
In 2009, Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the organization of Indonesian religious scholars, declared smoking in public or near pregnant women haram (forbidden), while declaring smoking in general to be makruh (discouraged or reprehensible).[5] Indonesian Muslim organization Muhammadiyah declared smoking haram in 2010;[14] the organization had previously listed smoking as merely Makruh (to be avoided).[14] Tobacco companies sponsored 1,350 youth-oriented events from January to October in 2007, and often gave free cigarettes to youths.[15] A 2015 study found that the fatwa had had a small effect on smoking and was primarily effective at keeping non-smokers from smoking.[5]
Iran
Iran's Grand Ayatollah Mirza Shirazi in 1891 issued a fatwa against tobacco. The fatwa was not based on the health effects of tobacco but framed as an Islamic duty to resist the grant of a tobacco monopoly to a foreign company by the Shah.
Malaysia
Malaysia's
Oman
In 1996, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hamad Al Khalili, the Grand Mufti of Oman, issued a fatwa prohibiting smoking and the sale of tobacco, comparing smoking to "sipping poison" Sheikh Al Khalili cited a verse from the Quran,[8] "do not kill yourselves for God Almighty is most merciful to you," to justify his ruling.[4]
Philippines
The Supreme Council of Darul Ifta of the Philippines, headed by Grand Mufti Sheikh Omar Pasigan, stated in June 2010 that smoking cigarettes is haram.[19]
Saudi Arabia
The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Aal Al-Sheikh, has ruled that "smoking is impermissible on the basis of authentic quotations, sound judgments, and the opinions of reputable physicians."[4] The Mufti cites a sahih hadith (verifiable saying of the Prophet) saying "do not harm yourself or others." He further referenced a Quranic verse saying that the Prophet "forbids that which is unwholesome."
United Arab Emirates
In addition to issuing a fatwa against smoking, the United Arab Emirates instructed imams in all mosques to read a sermon against smoking on June 11, 1999, following
Tobacco industry pushback
From the 1970s to the late 1990s, tobacco companies including
See also
References
- ^ "Saudi Arabia: Don't Keep Us From Smoking". American Bedu.
- ^ PMID 16455732.
- ^ a b c [Quran 2:195]
- ^ ISBN 978-92-9021-277-5.
- ^ PMID 26667011.
- ^ The Autobiography of Malcolm X; Grove Press (distributed by Random House); first paperback edition, 1966; p. 344
- ^ [Quran 7:31]
- ^ a b [Quran 4:29]
- PMID 12043328.
- S2CID 13545784.
- PMID 15119472. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2004-10-12.
- ^ "Is the Ruling on Smoking Still Controversial? - IslamonLine.net - Ask The Scholar". Archived from the original on 13 February 2008.
- ^ Hassan, Hossam (October 5, 2000). "RELIGION-EGYPT: Fatwa On Smoking Triggers Debate". IPS. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ a b Abdussalam, Andi (March 16, 2010). ""Fatwa" on smoking facing opposition". Antara News. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
- ^ Osman, Nurfika (March 10, 2010). "Muhammadiyah Targets Cigarette Ads After Issuing Fatwa". Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 19 July 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
- ^ "Don't take 'smoking is haram' fatwa lightly, Muslims told". malaymail. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- PMID 22302214.
- ^ "Malaysia's Fatwa Council declares electronic cigarettes as 'haram' or forbidden". The Straits Times. December 22, 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "Filipino Muslims forbidden to smoke, trade cigarettes". abs-cbnNEWS.com. 2010-06-23. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
- ^ a b c Boseley, Sarah (20 April 2015). "How tobacco firms tried to undermine Muslim countries' smoking ban". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ "How tobacco firms try to undermine Muslim countries' smoking ban". The Bangladesh Observer. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
Further reading
- Katib Chelebi, The Balance of Truth, Chapter 5
External links
- Fatwa Regarding Tobacco and Cigarettes Archived 2011-10-06 at the Wayback Machine
- Smoking: A Social Poison Muhammad al-Jibaly (1996)
- Smoking in Islam Archived 2007-08-26 at the about.com