The Ruling on Smoking Cigarettes and Hookah, and the Ways to Quit Them

Question:
May Allah reward you. A questioner asks: What is the ruling on smoking cigarettes and hookah? And what is the method you guide us to in order to get rid of this affliction? May Allah reward you.

Answer:
People have spoken a lot about smoking, even to the point that disbelievers warn against it and prohibit it, mentioning that it contains serious diseases. There is no doubt in its prohibition. Initially, some people were in doubt about its prohibition, but after the analyses came out, the reports from doctors and the health organizations, all the global health organizations decided that smoking is a harmful disaster. So there is no doubt now in its prohibition. Hookah is a type of smoking, meaning smoking is consumed in ways: either directly through cigarettes, or through what they call hookah with water and the like of these harms. In any case, it is forbidden in whatever form it is consumed. He must repent to Allah and leave this evil thing. He should have determination, meaning the ways by which he leaves smoking: first, determination. He should have strong determination and not have weakness or cowardice; he leaves smoking with resolve. Second, he avoids the gatherings of smokers. He does not sit with them, perhaps if he sits with them they will bring him back to smoking. So he stays away from gatherings where there is smoking or the consumption of smoking, gatherings of evil. He stays away from them, and this is among the causes of avoiding smoking, avoiding its people.