Opinion Editorials, September 2007
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Smoking Harms, it Should be Prohibited
By Mohammed Khako
ccun.org, September 17, 2007
Since the discovery of Tobacco by Spanish sailors, the epidemic of smoking has continued to spread all over the world. In the US, the Federal government and States employ media means, ordain laws and regulations and apply methods to dissuade citizens from the harm of smoking.
Smoking was introduced in 1000 AH to Muslim countries and unfortunately there are little or no measures exerted to protect the people from smoking. To the contrary, there are no restrictions or laws enacted to prevent Tobacco Advertising, hence epidemic of smoking has continued to spread. A striking example is that All-American airlines now prohibit smoking, even on the most international flights; on the other hand, for Muslim airlines, there is no restriction in-spite of that the Holy Qura'n prohibits smoking (as it prohibits any practice that harms people).
It’s hypocritical for Muslims to smoke. When they are reminded of their vice, they respond by providing feeble excuses and remark that there is no clear text prohibiting smoking. Therefore, they conclude, smoking is permitted but only disliked (Makhruh). While it clearly says in Holy Qura'n “Do not kill your self, God is indeed merciful to you. Do not cast your self, with your own hands, in destruction” (Chapter 2, Verse 195). No one can deny the harms of smoking to human body. The medical evidence for this is well established and overwhelming and it is due to this reason that warning signs are on all cigarettes and cigarette advertising in US and Canada.
Smoking contains numerous poisonous material such as nicotine, tar arsenic and other carso-genic substances which ingested even in small proportion over long period can cause cancer, tuberculosis, heart trouble, chronic lung and respiratory disease, premature birth, infertility, high blood pressure, and many other disease related to smoking. Smoking is nothing but a form of slow suicide It also well know fact that second-hand smoking is as detrimental to wife, children, and the environment as the first-hand smoking. The US Surgeon’s Generals Office considers cigarette smoking to America’s worst drug addiction problem.
The Holy Quran says “And do not waste (your resources) extravagantly. Indeed the squanders are the brethren of the devils” (Chapter 17, Verse 27; Chapter 6, Verse 141; Chapter 40, Verse 43). Smokers spend thousands of dollars a year that literally just go up in smoke. All this money is simply wasted and if today millions of Muslims would stop smoking it would go long way to eradicate poverty in the Muslim world. A major reason why sales of cigarettes continue at high levels despite widespread public knowledge about health hazards is the addictive nature of cigarettes.
Each Ramadan, million Muslims come together to fulfill an important pillar of Islamic faith, by abstain from food, drink and smoking during the daylight hours. One of the many benefits of Ramadan is that not only the sale of cigarettes goes down; Muslims find it helpful in giving up smoking. All smoking Muslims should give up this unhealthy and un-Islamic activity. For Muslims who has determination and sincerely practice Islam this should not be a difficult task. Ramadan is the best opportunity for smokers not to return to smoking by placing ones trust in God.
Most Muslims are aware of and try to avoid major sins, such as murder, suicide, adultery, alcohol, gambling, harm oneself or others, yet millions of Muslims all over the world are doing exactly the opposite when it comes to smoking and put their life and family in danger.
Islamic scholars have historically had mixed views about tobacco, and until recently many Islamic scholars have become more unanimous in pronouncing tobacco use as forbidden (Haram). The mixed views on the subject has for two reasons, first the smoking of tobacco was not present at the time of revelation of Qur'an and there was not much scientific evidence of harm and addiction tobacco causes to the human body. Therefore one cannot find a verse of the Holy Qur'an or the words of Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) explicitly saying, “Cigarettes are forbidden. However there are many instances where the Holy Qur'an gives us general guidelines, and call upon us to use reason and intelligence of what is right and wrong.
Today, the Muslim Ummah needs a unanimous Fatwa (religious edict) forbidding smoking as it was done in 1953 that the monopoly of a British Tobacco company, endorsed by the shah of Iran, was foiled and that was through forbidding any deals with the company
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