Discussion with some who do not consider smoking to be forbidden.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : ... Leave that alone.
The questioner: Of course... .
The Shaykh : Leave "nutmeg" alone; we are not talking about it now. It is narcotic hashish. What is your understanding? Is it forbidden or permissible?
The questioner : It is forbidden.
The Shaykh : Is there a text regarding its prohibition?
The questioner : It is an intoxicant.
The Shaykh : It is not an intoxicant!
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : No.
The questioner : What is the type of effect that takes hold of the mind? I mean, it changes a person's mind.
The Shaykh : The point is, it is not an intoxicant. Khamr is the intoxicant. This is a narcotic. Fine. Do you have a text regarding the prohibition of narcotics?
The questioner : Whatever takes away the mind is forbidden!
The Shaykh : That is how it is now, we need...
Another questioner : That is how he is giving you the essence of the matter...
The Shaykh : I am asking you, is there evidence? Have you seen evidence for the prohibition of narcotics? You are repeating the reasoning that it is a narcotic.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : You agreed in principle that it is a narcotic, but is this narcotic forbidden or permissible for you? You say: forbidden. Do you have evidence? Tell me: I have it or I do not have it. And the best speech is that which is brief and to the point.
The questioner : I do not have evidence. When you are the one who is forced to look for the evidence.
Another questioner : That is good, "forced." I liked the expression!
The Shaykh : Did you like it?
Another questioner : By Allah, I liked it! [The questioner laughs!]
The Shaykh : This man is getting you into trouble. Be careful.
The questioner : No, the matter is simple.
The Shaykh : I am not forced, because you are the one who is testifying that it is forbidden.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Listen, may Allah guide you, listen.
The questioner : You are an imam, and the people...
Another questioner : Since you are an imam... you must find a solution to the issue!
The Shaykh : This is the first time I have met you, Abu Mazen. What made you think I am an imam? I am asking you a question: Is smoking forbidden or permissible? You say: I did not find a text regarding its prohibition.
The questioner : No, it is not forbidden.
The Shaykh : Fine. Did you find a text regarding the prohibition of narcotics?
The questioner : The attribute of the forbidden thing, which is taking away the mind, applies to it.
The Shaykh : What is the evidence?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : What is the evidence?
The questioner : It applies to it. This evidence exists in the Shari'ah regarding the prohibition of intoxicants.
The Shaykh : We told you: this is a narcotic, not an intoxicant.
The questioner : The intoxicant and the narcotic are one.
The Shaykh : What is the evidence? I say: the intoxicant and the narcotic are one. That is what Abu Mazen said. Another one, Abu Hazim, says: the intoxicant, the narcotic, and smoking are one thing.
The questioner : No, smoking is not...
The Shaykh : It does not matter. Fine. What is the difference?
The questioner : No Muslim has pointed out and given a Shari'ah reason for the prohibition.
The Shaykh : The prohibition of what?
The questioner : Smoking.
The Shaykh : I will give it to you, and I am a Muslim just like you say.
The questioner: Go ahead.
The Shaykh : But how is it permissible for you to say that no one has?
The questioner : Not one person.
The Shaykh : Here is one person right in front of you.
The questioner : You say: it is permissible. We are not convinced by your evidence.
The Shaykh : And you must be convinced by it. [The Shaykh laughs!] You must be convinced by it?
Another questioner : He is not intending to be convinced by it.
The questioner : But in my mind, it does not work. It needs a Shari'ah basis, a text.
The Shaykh : Okay, that is a word of truth!
The questioner : Because prohibition is not a simple matter where you say: this is permissible and this is forbidden.
The Shaykh : Yes, by Allah, okay, okay. What do you say about his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 2340Da'if (Darussalam)?
The questionerSunan Ibn Majah 2340Da'if (Darussalam) A hadith established from the Messenger.
The Shaykh : What does it mean?
The questioner : It means avoiding what is harmful.
The Shaykh : Fine. Do you know that smoking is harmful or not harmful?
The questioner : Sometimes it is harmful and sometimes it is not.
The Shaykh : The doctors do not say "sometimes it is harmful." That is your statement. You are neither a scholar nor a doctor. What do the doctors say? Is the attribute of smoking that it is harmful, or is its attribute that it is sometimes harmful and sometimes not? The doctors are not you.
The questioner : They say it is harmful, and they smoke it, the doctors.
The Shaykh : Alright, we are discussing this point.
The questioner : No, you are invalidating people's testimony in this way. You believed and accepted that this is forbidden and it is not permissible to drink it. Why do you drink it?
The Shaykh : Because it is corrupt.
The questioner : Oh?
The Shaykh : Because it is corrupt.
The questioner : Then it invalidates the testimony.
The Shaykh : But this is not testimony in a Shari'ah ruling. It is testimony in knowledge.
The questioner : What is their ruling? ...
The Shaykh : O Shaykh, may Allah guide you. Those who went to the moon, are they disbelievers or Muslims?
The questioner : What do we have to do with disbelievers and Muslims? All people look at the moon.
The Shaykh : Look at it?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : They went up, they went up to the moon.
The questioner : If they went up, what is their status? Disbelievers.
The Shaykh : No problem, I am asking you. Those who went up to the moon and came down, are they Muslims or disbelievers?
The questioner : Disbelievers, and some of them became Muslims when they saw...
The Shaykh : Some of them became Muslims? May Allah bless you with good. Who among them? Did they become Muslims?
Another questioner : The one who became Muslim among them was killed.
The Shaykh : Did they testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?
The questioner : They might have been killed, but...
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you, O Abu...
The questioner : ... Why was he killed? Was it not because he brought the news that Islam is the truth?
Another questioner : And I think they are disbelievers.
The questioner : They are among the disbelievers.
The Shaykh : Fine. How did you know that these people went up to the moon? Did you receive news from a Muslim man who went up and told you: we went up to the moon?
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh : Then how did you know?
The questioner : Knowledge has no limit!
The Shaykh : How did you know, my dear? How did you know? News from a Muslim or a disbeliever?
The questioner : From the bulletins, newspapers, and news. That is what we hear.
The Shaykh : You did not answer me! Do you know the answer, Abu Mazen? Do you know my question?
The questioner : Which question?
The Shaykh : How did you know that these disbelievers went up to the moon?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Are they Muslims or disbelievers?
The questioner : Disbelievers.
The Shaykh : Then you accepted their testimony now.
The questioner : It is not testimony. It is scientific. It is... scientific. And knowledge...
The Shaykh : And also the examination of the harms of smoking is scientific.
The questioner : Oh?
The Shaykh : Also, the examination of smoking, its components, and its harms is a scientific matter.
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh: Was it?
The questioner : I challenge you now. It is all lies...
The Shaykh : Alright. There is no god but Allah.
The questioner : There is no god but Allah.
The questioner: Of course... .
The Shaykh : Leave "nutmeg" alone; we are not talking about it now. It is narcotic hashish. What is your understanding? Is it forbidden or permissible?
The questioner : It is forbidden.
The Shaykh : Is there a text regarding its prohibition?
The questioner : It is an intoxicant.
The Shaykh : It is not an intoxicant!
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : No.
The questioner : What is the type of effect that takes hold of the mind? I mean, it changes a person's mind.
The Shaykh : The point is, it is not an intoxicant. Khamr is the intoxicant. This is a narcotic. Fine. Do you have a text regarding the prohibition of narcotics?
The questioner : Whatever takes away the mind is forbidden!
The Shaykh : That is how it is now, we need...
Another questioner : That is how he is giving you the essence of the matter...
The Shaykh : I am asking you, is there evidence? Have you seen evidence for the prohibition of narcotics? You are repeating the reasoning that it is a narcotic.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : You agreed in principle that it is a narcotic, but is this narcotic forbidden or permissible for you? You say: forbidden. Do you have evidence? Tell me: I have it or I do not have it. And the best speech is that which is brief and to the point.
The questioner : I do not have evidence. When you are the one who is forced to look for the evidence.
Another questioner : That is good, "forced." I liked the expression!
The Shaykh : Did you like it?
Another questioner : By Allah, I liked it! [The questioner laughs!]
The Shaykh : This man is getting you into trouble. Be careful.
The questioner : No, the matter is simple.
The Shaykh : I am not forced, because you are the one who is testifying that it is forbidden.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Listen, may Allah guide you, listen.
The questioner : You are an imam, and the people...
Another questioner : Since you are an imam... you must find a solution to the issue!
The Shaykh : This is the first time I have met you, Abu Mazen. What made you think I am an imam? I am asking you a question: Is smoking forbidden or permissible? You say: I did not find a text regarding its prohibition.
The questioner : No, it is not forbidden.
The Shaykh : Fine. Did you find a text regarding the prohibition of narcotics?
The questioner : The attribute of the forbidden thing, which is taking away the mind, applies to it.
The Shaykh : What is the evidence?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : What is the evidence?
The questioner : It applies to it. This evidence exists in the Shari'ah regarding the prohibition of intoxicants.
The Shaykh : We told you: this is a narcotic, not an intoxicant.
The questioner : The intoxicant and the narcotic are one.
The Shaykh : What is the evidence? I say: the intoxicant and the narcotic are one. That is what Abu Mazen said. Another one, Abu Hazim, says: the intoxicant, the narcotic, and smoking are one thing.
The questioner : No, smoking is not...
The Shaykh : It does not matter. Fine. What is the difference?
The questioner : No Muslim has pointed out and given a Shari'ah reason for the prohibition.
The Shaykh : The prohibition of what?
The questioner : Smoking.
The Shaykh : I will give it to you, and I am a Muslim just like you say.
The questioner: Go ahead.
The Shaykh : But how is it permissible for you to say that no one has?
The questioner : Not one person.
The Shaykh : Here is one person right in front of you.
The questioner : You say: it is permissible. We are not convinced by your evidence.
The Shaykh : And you must be convinced by it. [The Shaykh laughs!] You must be convinced by it?
Another questioner : He is not intending to be convinced by it.
The questioner : But in my mind, it does not work. It needs a Shari'ah basis, a text.
The Shaykh : Okay, that is a word of truth!
The questioner : Because prohibition is not a simple matter where you say: this is permissible and this is forbidden.
The Shaykh : Yes, by Allah, okay, okay. What do you say about his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
It was narrated from 'Ubadah bin Samit that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ruled: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.”
لا ضرر ولا ضرارThe questioner
It was narrated from 'Ubadah bin Samit that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ruled: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.”
لا ضرر ولا ضرارThe Shaykh : What does it mean?
The questioner : It means avoiding what is harmful.
The Shaykh : Fine. Do you know that smoking is harmful or not harmful?
The questioner : Sometimes it is harmful and sometimes it is not.
The Shaykh : The doctors do not say "sometimes it is harmful." That is your statement. You are neither a scholar nor a doctor. What do the doctors say? Is the attribute of smoking that it is harmful, or is its attribute that it is sometimes harmful and sometimes not? The doctors are not you.
The questioner : They say it is harmful, and they smoke it, the doctors.
The Shaykh : Alright, we are discussing this point.
The questioner : No, you are invalidating people's testimony in this way. You believed and accepted that this is forbidden and it is not permissible to drink it. Why do you drink it?
The Shaykh : Because it is corrupt.
The questioner : Oh?
The Shaykh : Because it is corrupt.
The questioner : Then it invalidates the testimony.
The Shaykh : But this is not testimony in a Shari'ah ruling. It is testimony in knowledge.
The questioner : What is their ruling? ...
The Shaykh : O Shaykh, may Allah guide you. Those who went to the moon, are they disbelievers or Muslims?
The questioner : What do we have to do with disbelievers and Muslims? All people look at the moon.
The Shaykh : Look at it?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : They went up, they went up to the moon.
The questioner : If they went up, what is their status? Disbelievers.
The Shaykh : No problem, I am asking you. Those who went up to the moon and came down, are they Muslims or disbelievers?
The questioner : Disbelievers, and some of them became Muslims when they saw...
The Shaykh : Some of them became Muslims? May Allah bless you with good. Who among them? Did they become Muslims?
Another questioner : The one who became Muslim among them was killed.
The Shaykh : Did they testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?
The questioner : They might have been killed, but...
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you, O Abu...
The questioner : ... Why was he killed? Was it not because he brought the news that Islam is the truth?
Another questioner : And I think they are disbelievers.
The questioner : They are among the disbelievers.
The Shaykh : Fine. How did you know that these people went up to the moon? Did you receive news from a Muslim man who went up and told you: we went up to the moon?
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh : Then how did you know?
The questioner : Knowledge has no limit!
The Shaykh : How did you know, my dear? How did you know? News from a Muslim or a disbeliever?
The questioner : From the bulletins, newspapers, and news. That is what we hear.
The Shaykh : You did not answer me! Do you know the answer, Abu Mazen? Do you know my question?
The questioner : Which question?
The Shaykh : How did you know that these disbelievers went up to the moon?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Are they Muslims or disbelievers?
The questioner : Disbelievers.
The Shaykh : Then you accepted their testimony now.
The questioner : It is not testimony. It is scientific. It is... scientific. And knowledge...
The Shaykh : And also the examination of the harms of smoking is scientific.
The questioner : Oh?
The Shaykh : Also, the examination of smoking, its components, and its harms is a scientific matter.
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh: Was it?
The questioner : I challenge you now. It is all lies...
The Shaykh : Alright. There is no god but Allah.
The questioner : There is no god but Allah.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.