Is smoking forbidden by Islamic law, or is it merely disliked?
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The questioner : The questioner from Algeria asks: Is smoking forbidden by Islamic law?
The Shaykh : Is it? Is it?
The questioner : Is smoking forbidden by Islamic law, or is it merely disliked?
The Shaykh : Smoking means smoking cigarettes.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is forbidden because it falls under the general texts of prohibition. Although it is not mentioned by name in the Qur'an or the Sunnah, this Shari'ah has general principles that encompass specific details until the Day of Resurrection. When we look at the texts, we find that they necessitate the prohibition of smoking, i.e., cigarettes. Among these is the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[An-Nisa 4:5] Thus, the Exalted and Glorious has forbidden us from giving our wealth to the foolish, and He has made clear that our wealth is the foundation upon which our religious and worldly interests stand. There is no doubt that spending one's wealth on these cigarettes is foolishness from which one gains no benefit, but rather suffers harm from it. Also, among these is His saying, the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:29] Smoking cigarettes is one of the causes of fatal diseases for which there is no cure. Doctors have stated that it is a cause of general or organ cancer, so the smoker is causing his own death. Also, among these is His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:195] Although this is a prohibition against negligence in obligatory duties, it also encompasses falling into forbidden acts.
As for the Sunnah, it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he forbade the squandering of wealth. It is not hidden what smoking, i.e., cigarettes, entails of squandering wealth. One finds that the one afflicted with it spends a dirham on it before buying food for himself and his family. There is no doubt that this is squandering of wealth.
Among the evidence for its prohibition is that the one afflicted with it finds worship heavy upon him, especially fasting. I give you an example of a man whose soul craves smoking a cigarette, and the time for prayer has arrived. What will prayer be like for him? Will it be heavy or light? It will be heavy, without a doubt, and he may even leave the prayer until he smokes the cigarette. Do you see what fasting will be like for a man who is fasting? Will it be light or heavy? It will be heavy for him. Furthermore, smoking cigarettes in the presence of people harms them with the smell, and the smoke rising from the cigarette and coming out of the smoker's mouth and nose may harm them. This leads to one of two things: either harm and annoyance, or annoyance only, or harm only. Therefore, we warn our brothers from smoking cigarettes and tell them: Suppose you are in Hajj or 'Umrah and you smoke cigarettes. Do you not know that this diminishes the reward of the Hajj and 'Umrah? Because Allah, the Exalted, said:[Al-Baqarah 2:197] And smoking these cigarettes is open sinfulness, so the one in the state of ihram who smokes cigarettes falls into what Allah has forbidden, and this diminishes the reward of his Hajj and 'Umrah. But those afflicted with it ask: How do we get rid of this, when our souls have become attached to it and our blood has mixed with it? We say: The matter requires sincere determination, sincere repentance, turning to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and seeking His help, and staying away from smokers. One should not sit with them or walk with them. It also requires endurance and patience, even if one's soul becomes distressed and his chest constricted, let him be patient. We have heard and seen that quitting is easy with sincere determination, but many of those afflicted with it are weak in spirit, do not endure patience, and indulge in wishful thinking. Wishful thinking is the loss of the self and the loss of time.
We ask Allah for guidance for us and our brothers, and protection from what Allah has forbidden for us.
The questioner : O Allah, amen.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : Is it? Is it?
The questioner : Is smoking forbidden by Islamic law, or is it merely disliked?
The Shaykh : Smoking means smoking cigarettes.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is forbidden because it falls under the general texts of prohibition. Although it is not mentioned by name in the Qur'an or the Sunnah, this Shari'ah has general principles that encompass specific details until the Day of Resurrection. When we look at the texts, we find that they necessitate the prohibition of smoking, i.e., cigarettes. Among these is the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
And do not give the weak-minded your property, which Allah has made a means of sustenance for you
وَلا تُؤتُوا السُّفَهاءَ أَموالَكُمُ الَّتي جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُم قِيامًاAnd do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful.
وَلا تَقتُلوا أَنفُسَكُم إِنَّ اللَّهَ كانَ بِكُم رَحيمًاand do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]
وَلا تُلقوا بِأَيديكُم إِلَى التَّهلُكَةِAs for the Sunnah, it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he forbade the squandering of wealth. It is not hidden what smoking, i.e., cigarettes, entails of squandering wealth. One finds that the one afflicted with it spends a dirham on it before buying food for himself and his family. There is no doubt that this is squandering of wealth.
Among the evidence for its prohibition is that the one afflicted with it finds worship heavy upon him, especially fasting. I give you an example of a man whose soul craves smoking a cigarette, and the time for prayer has arrived. What will prayer be like for him? Will it be heavy or light? It will be heavy, without a doubt, and he may even leave the prayer until he smokes the cigarette. Do you see what fasting will be like for a man who is fasting? Will it be light or heavy? It will be heavy for him. Furthermore, smoking cigarettes in the presence of people harms them with the smell, and the smoke rising from the cigarette and coming out of the smoker's mouth and nose may harm them. This leads to one of two things: either harm and annoyance, or annoyance only, or harm only. Therefore, we warn our brothers from smoking cigarettes and tell them: Suppose you are in Hajj or 'Umrah and you smoke cigarettes. Do you not know that this diminishes the reward of the Hajj and 'Umrah? Because Allah, the Exalted, said:
so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of ihram], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj
فَمَن فَرَضَ فيهِنَّ الحَجَّ فَلا رَفَثَ وَلا فُسوقَ وَلا جِدالَ فِي الحَجِّWe ask Allah for guidance for us and our brothers, and protection from what Allah has forbidden for us.
The questioner : O Allah, amen.
The Shaykh : Yes.