What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding smoking? And what is the ruling on trading in it?
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The questioner : What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in your view regarding smoking, O honorable Shaykh? And he also asks: What is the ruling on trading in it?
The Shaykh : Yes. Regarding smoking, which is the consumption of tobacco, the scholars have differed, with some permitting it and others forbidding it, as is the case with every new matter that arises on the scene; the scholars' independent legal reasoning differs regarding it. However, in recent times, it has become clear to people that it is not possible to say it is permissible because of the severe harms it contains, which lead its user to destruction. And Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:29] And He the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:195] And if it is established—and it is established—that it is a harm, then we add to the harm to the body the financial harm, for it destroys much wealth. If a person were to calculate what he wastes in this regard, he would see that he wastes a great deal. Thus, spending money on it is a form of wasting wealth. And Allah the Exalted said: [An-Nisa 4:5] forbidding the giving of wealth to the foolish, who are those who do not manage their wealth well, and clarifying that wealth is the foundation, meaning that the interests of religion and worldly life are established through it. He only forbade giving the wealth of the foolish, which Allah said , and Allah said of it , so that a person would be careful with the orphan's wealth as he is careful with his own wealth. Otherwise, it is known that the wealth belongs to the orphan. He forbade giving it to the foolish because the foolish do not manage it well. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he forbade the wasting of wealth. And because the smoker finds worship burdensome, especially fasting, because it prevents him from smoking.
And on this occasion, the occasion of welcoming the month of Ramadan in the year 1410, I would like to offer a short piece of advice to those who have been afflicted with smoking. I say: This blessed month of Ramadan is a wide field for competing to quit it. First, because it is a month in which righteous deeds should be abundant. Second, because the fasting person will not consume this tobacco during the day. So if he is patient in refraining from smoking all day, let him be patient at night as well until the dawn breaks. If he persists in this for a full month, the impurities in his blood will dissolve and disappear, and it will become very easy for him to quit. So my advice to the brothers who have been afflicted with it is to seek the help of Allah the Mighty and Majestic in this month of Ramadan to quit it. And whoever seeks the help of Allah with sincerity and devotion, Allah the Mighty and Majestic will help him.
In summary, smoking is forbidden because it is a harm to the body, a harm to wealth, and a harm to the soul. And if something is forbidden, then trading in it is forbidden, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Ibn Hibban 26:35 Therefore, trading in it is not permissible. And whoever is afflicted with it must quit it, because trading in it is forbidden and the earnings obtained from it are forbidden. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. In his last question, in the question from the listener from Iraq, from the province of Nineveh, Muhammad B A.
The Shaykh : Yes. Regarding smoking, which is the consumption of tobacco, the scholars have differed, with some permitting it and others forbidding it, as is the case with every new matter that arises on the scene; the scholars' independent legal reasoning differs regarding it. However, in recent times, it has become clear to people that it is not possible to say it is permissible because of the severe harms it contains, which lead its user to destruction. And Allah the Exalted said:
And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful.
وَلا تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًاand do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]
وَلا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِAnd do not give the weak-minded your property, which Allah has made a means of sustenance for you
وَلا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَامًاyour wealth
أموالكمyour wealth
أموالكمAnd on this occasion, the occasion of welcoming the month of Ramadan in the year 1410, I would like to offer a short piece of advice to those who have been afflicted with smoking. I say: This blessed month of Ramadan is a wide field for competing to quit it. First, because it is a month in which righteous deeds should be abundant. Second, because the fasting person will not consume this tobacco during the day. So if he is patient in refraining from smoking all day, let him be patient at night as well until the dawn breaks. If he persists in this for a full month, the impurities in his blood will dissolve and disappear, and it will become very easy for him to quit. So my advice to the brothers who have been afflicted with it is to seek the help of Allah the Mighty and Majestic in this month of Ramadan to quit it. And whoever seeks the help of Allah with sincerity and devotion, Allah the Mighty and Majestic will help him.
In summary, smoking is forbidden because it is a harm to the body, a harm to wealth, and a harm to the soul. And if something is forbidden, then trading in it is forbidden, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Indeed, when Allah forbids something, He forbids its price
إن الله إذا حرّم شيئاً حرّم ثمنهThe questioner : May Allah bless you. In his last question, in the question from the listener from Iraq, from the province of Nineveh, Muhammad B A.