What is the ruling on smoking?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. Shaykh, is there a scholarly disagreement regarding the ruling on smoking?
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : Is there a scholarly disagreement regarding the ruling on smoking—whether it is forbidden or disliked? And is this disagreement considered when it comes to forbidding it? If a person smokes in a gathering, or comes and smokes in the gathering, is he expelled from the gathering?
The Shaykh : Yes, when tobacco first appeared, the scholars differed on it, just as they differed on other new things, with multiple opinions. However, in the present time, it has become clear to the scholars from the principles of the Shari'ah that it is forbidden without doubt. It is forbidden without doubt. No one should say that it is forbidden for the one it harms but permissible for the one it does not harm, because this is an analogy that cannot be regulated. In some foods, it is permissible for one person and forbidden for another. If we were to tell a man suffering from diabetes, "Do not eat dates or sweets," dates and sweets would become forbidden for him because they harm him and he must avoid them, while they remain permissible for others. So regarding tobacco, no one should say that we find 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 the standard; the standard is the common case. The common case, by the consensus of doctors and the consensus of nations that claim to be civilized, is that it is harmful to the individual and society. For this reason, in America, which is an advanced country, they prohibit smoking in gatherings, in markets, and in airplanes. Some of our brothers who travel to America by plane told me that when they approach American airspace—meaning the United States—if they approach it, they announce the prohibition of smoking on the plane. Yes.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Therefore, we say that it is forbidden without doubt. The previous disagreement was based on the fact that the causes of its prohibition had not yet become apparent. This is regarding its ruling. It is not permissible to sell it, buy it, rent shops to those who sell it, carry it, import it, or smoke it.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : Is there a scholarly disagreement regarding the ruling on smoking—whether it is forbidden or disliked? And is this disagreement considered when it comes to forbidding it? If a person smokes in a gathering, or comes and smokes in the gathering, is he expelled from the gathering?
The Shaykh : Yes, when tobacco first appeared, the scholars differed on it, just as they differed on other new things, with multiple opinions. However, in the present time, it has become clear to the scholars from the principles of the Shari'ah that it is forbidden without doubt. It is forbidden without doubt. No one should say that it is forbidden for the one it harms but permissible for the one it does not harm, because this is an analogy that cannot be regulated. In some foods, it is permissible for one person and forbidden for another. If we were to tell a man suffering from diabetes, "Do not eat dates or sweets," dates and sweets would become forbidden for him because they harm him and he must avoid them, while they remain permissible for others. So regarding tobacco, no one should say that we find 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 the standard; the standard is the common case. The common case, by the consensus of doctors and the consensus of nations that claim to be civilized, is that it is harmful to the individual and society. For this reason, in America, which is an advanced country, they prohibit smoking in gatherings, in markets, and in airplanes. Some of our brothers who travel to America by plane told me that when they approach American airspace—meaning the United States—if they approach it, they announce the prohibition of smoking on the plane. Yes.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Therefore, we say that it is forbidden without doubt. The previous disagreement was based on the fact that the causes of its prohibition had not yet become apparent. This is regarding its ruling. It is not permissible to sell it, buy it, rent shops to those who sell it, carry it, import it, or smoke it.