The Established Consensus on the Prohibition of Tobacco
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Is there a difference of opinion regarding the ruling on smoking, whether it is forbidden or disliked? And is this difference of opinion considered when someone smokes in a gathering or comes and smokes in the gathering? Is he to be expelled from the gathering?
When tobacco first appeared, the scholars differed on it, as is the case with other new things; they differed on it with multiple opinions. But at the present time, it has become clear to the scholars from the principles of the Shari'ah: that it is forbidden without doubt.And let no one say: It is forbidden for the one it harms and permissible for the one it does not harm, because this analogy cannot be regulated. Some foods are permissible for one person and forbidden for another.If it were said to a man suffering from diabetes: Do not eat dates or sweets; the dates and sweets become forbidden for him because they harm him and he is obligated to avoid them, while they are permissible for others.As for tobacco, let no one say: We find that there are people who smoke it and are not harmed by it.
We say: Yes, there may be immunity in their bodies, but in the long run they will be harmed by it. The rare case is not considered; the general case is what matters. And the general case now, by the agreement of doctors and the agreement of the nations that are called civilized, is that it is harmful to the individual and society.
Therefore, in America, which is the advanced country, they prohibit smoking in gatherings, in markets, and in airplanes. Some of our brothers who travel by plane to America told me: that when they approach the airspace of America—and I mean the United States—when they approach it, they announce the prohibition of smoking on the plane.So, based on this, we say: It is forbidden without doubt, and the previous difference of opinion was based on the non-appearance of the causes of prohibition. This is regarding its ruling.
So it is not permissible to sell it, nor to buy it, nor to rent shops to those who sell it, nor to carry it, nor to import it, nor to smoke it.
As for the one who enters a gathering and wants to smoke, the people of the gathering have the right to prevent him by force; because they are a group and he is one. And it is not permissible for him to smoke in front of them and harm them, so it becomes forbidden for this entrant from two aspects: The first aspect: that it is forbidden by the Shari'ah at all times.
And the second aspect: That it is forbidden due to the harm it causes to the people of the gathering.
And they have the right to expel him from the gathering by force.Unless he stops when it is said to him: Do not smoke; this achieves the intended purpose.
When tobacco first appeared, the scholars differed on it, as is the case with other new things; they differed on it with multiple opinions. But at the present time, it has become clear to the scholars from the principles of the Shari'ah: that it is forbidden without doubt.And let no one say: It is forbidden for the one it harms and permissible for the one it does not harm, because this analogy cannot be regulated. Some foods are permissible for one person and forbidden for another.If it were said to a man suffering from diabetes: Do not eat dates or sweets; the dates and sweets become forbidden for him because they harm him and he is obligated to avoid them, while they are permissible for others.As for tobacco, let no one say: We find that there are people who smoke it and are not harmed by it.
We say: Yes, there may be immunity in their bodies, but in the long run they will be harmed by it. The rare case is not considered; the general case is what matters. And the general case now, by the agreement of doctors and the agreement of the nations that are called civilized, is that it is harmful to the individual and society.
Therefore, in America, which is the advanced country, they prohibit smoking in gatherings, in markets, and in airplanes. Some of our brothers who travel by plane to America told me: that when they approach the airspace of America—and I mean the United States—when they approach it, they announce the prohibition of smoking on the plane.So, based on this, we say: It is forbidden without doubt, and the previous difference of opinion was based on the non-appearance of the causes of prohibition. This is regarding its ruling.
So it is not permissible to sell it, nor to buy it, nor to rent shops to those who sell it, nor to carry it, nor to import it, nor to smoke it.
As for the one who enters a gathering and wants to smoke, the people of the gathering have the right to prevent him by force; because they are a group and he is one. And it is not permissible for him to smoke in front of them and harm them, so it becomes forbidden for this entrant from two aspects: The first aspect: that it is forbidden by the Shari'ah at all times.
And the second aspect: That it is forbidden due to the harm it causes to the people of the gathering.
And they have the right to expel him from the gathering by force.Unless he stops when it is said to him: Do not smoke; this achieves the intended purpose.