The term Haram means any act that is strictly forbidden according to Islamic law.
In this article, we will discuss if smoking is haram/forbidden in Islam.
Smoking is hazardous to health- all of us are aware of this and knowing the harmful effects of smoking, both Muslim and non-Muslim communities are now fighting against it.
It is not mentioned in Quran or hadith specifically about smoking being haram
However, ALLAH SWT says in Quran:
“And do not kill yourselves (or one another). Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful” (Quran 4: 29)
In an authentic hadeeth, Thabit Ibn Al-Dahak narrated that the Prophet Muhammad SAW said, “Whosoever kills himself with anything in this world will be tortured with it on the Day of Judgment.” (Sahih Bukhari,Muslim)
“Do not let your own hands throw you into destruction ‘by withholding’.” (Quran2:195)
In another ayah, it is mentioned:
“HE (ALLAH SWT) allows them as lawful At Tayyibat (All good and lawful things, deeds, beliefs, persons, and foods), and prohibits them as unlawful Al Khabaith (everything evil and unlawful things, deeds, beliefs, persons, and foods)” (Quran 7:157)
From the above verses, it is inferred that anything harmful to the body should not be consumed or done and it is strictly prohibited in Islam.
And Smoking is nothing but slow poison killing more than 7 million people every year as per WHO estimates.
Is Smoking considered haram in Islam or is it allowed for Muslims?
As we mentioned earlier that the Quran and Sunnah are old texts and thus do not contain any direct ruling regarding smoking being haram/prohibited because smoking was not known to the Muslim world until early in the seventeenth century of Hijra. Smoking and tobacco were found first in Europe before getting spread in the Muslim world through the Maghrib and Sudan. However, ALLAH SWT knows best and warned mankind of all these harmful acts in different ways. And it is a message for those who believe and are intellectual.
There are various instances and ayahs where ALLAH SWT clearly gives us guidelines to stay away from what is harmful to our body and understand what is right and wrong for us.
According to the WHO expert committee report smoking is the major cause of several diseases such as lung cancer, coronary heart failure, inflammations of the lungs, and chronic bronchitis. These are some of the life-threatening diseases that are the result of smoking on a man’s health and are enough to kill a healthy person.
Witnessing the harmful effects of smoking, Islamic scholars have issued various Fatwas concerning the prohibition of smoking in Islam.
Smoking is the proven cause of damaging people’s health and has been the reason of death to many So a similar ruling applies to it as it is an intoxicant and a harmful substance. Hence, it is considered haram in Islam.
ALLAH SWT also forbids a believer to spend mindlessly and not waste on something that is harmful to themselves and to society as well.
ALLAH SWT says in Quran: “And eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly, ALLAH likes not Al-Musrifun (those who waste by extravagance)” (Quran 7:31)
In another verse from the holy Quran, it is mentioned: “And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor stingy, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes)” (Quran25:67)
In a hadith It was narrated that the Prophet Muhammad SAW said: “ALLAH SWT forbids you to trade gossip, to ask too many questions, and to waste money.” And ALLAH forbade wasteful extravagance.
Considering the fact that smoking is damaging to both life and wealth, and to others who consume the smoke passively, it is not permissible for a Muslim to indulge in smoking.
It is said that the five imperatives of Islam are the preservation of religion, body, mind, wealth, and honor. A Muslim is guided by ALLAH SWT through texts in the Quran and the Sunnah so that He may be secured from any kind of destruction to himself.
ALLAH SWT says in Quran: “And cast not yourselves to ruin with your own hands” (Quran 2:195), “and kill not yourselves” (Quran 4:29)
Prophet Muhammad SAW said: “No slave of God shall move on the day of judgment until he is asked about his life and how he spent it, his knowledge and what he did with it, his wealth and how he obtained and spent it, and his body and how he used it” (reported by Al-Tirmidhi)
So, a Muslim is responsible to ALLAH SWT for his body as it is the Amanah from ALLAH SWT, and his wealth as well.
We can’t imagine the amount of money spent on smoking, in other way smokers are burning theirhard-earned money for nothing but just a temporary pleasure which in turn is taking a toll on their lives and wealth.
There are people who are addicted to smoking but can hardly afford it and then deprive themselves of other essential requirements of life.
Smoking is considered haram by well-known scholars based on research and the serious diseases caused by smoking.
It is mentioned in the holy Quran that ALLAH SWT says: “Let no mother cause harm to her child, nor a father causes harm to his child.” (Quran2:233)
The unborn child of a smoker parent suffers before even the child is born and that is terrible.
ALLAH SWT clearly prohibited such substances before even it was invented.
It is mentioned in the Quran: “O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and drawing lots for decisions are all evil of Satan’s handiwork. So shun them so you may be successful” (Quran 5:90)
ALLAH SWT created mankind the most honored of all creations and ALLAH SWT says in the Quran: Indeed, We honored the progeny of Adam, and bore them across land and sea and provided them with good things for their sustenance, and exalted them above many of Our creatures.
Hence it is not permissible for mankind to harm themselves and other human beings as it is evident that all the five basic needs of human beings are adversely afflicted by smoking. And the five basic needs of humans are self, mind, offspring, faith, and money as identified by religious Islamic scholars. When a person is addicted to smoking they would find it hard to fast during the month of Ramadan hence afflicting their faith. Offspring are harmed if one or both of the parents are smokers. The fetus is harmed if a pregnant woman smokes. Also, a smoker harms others by what is termed as passive smoking and this harm is equivalent to the who is smoking himself.
The ancient scholars did not view the use of tobacco or cigarettes as forbidden, according to Shaikh Ahmed Umal-Hashim. This is because the studies at the time either weren’t done or didn’t enable them to comprehend the damages that smoking brings to smokers. As the investigation progressed over time, it
demonstrated the substantial impact smoking did on smokers’ health. The experts concluded that smoking was forbidden after considering this in light of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah. (Al Mu’riful Shari)
According to Prophet Muhammad, SAW “Whoever killed himself by consuming poison, his dwelling will be the Hellfire.” (Muslim)
So, each and every Muslim with sound judgment and understanding must refrain from approaching this hazardous and foul habit. Smoking is indeed a Haram act with no benefits whatsoever.
Let’s pray for those who are in the trap of this bad habit. May ALLAH SWT give them guidance on all matters and help those who need to get out of this habit. inshallah
Also Read: Halal And Haram Food In Islam