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• Muslims and Cigarette Smoking 

Both Said and Aceves knew that smoking was very harmful to their health, but neither could resist the lure of the powerful addiction. “There is not a single organ in the body that is not affected by the negative effects of smoking,” said Dr. Maher Hathout, a retired cardiologist and the director of the Islamic Center of Southern California. . . .

Arguing whether smoking is halal (lawful) or haram (unlawful or forbidden) has been a contentious issue among Islamic scholars. Some argue very strongly that it is haram, while others prefer a less damning word called makrouh, or discouraged. “There is no direct text that addresses the issue of smoking, there are only general principles,” said Sheikh Yasser Fazaga, imam and community leader at the Mission Viejo mosque. “That which is tayib (good) is lawful and that which is khabeeth (evil) is unlawful,” he added. Acknowledging that smoking was classified as being evil, Fazaga disagreed with those who declare smoking haram, arguing that there was no clear text forbidding it as the Qur’an says, “And He (God) detailed to you that which He has made unlawful.” However, many scholars disagree, Making the case that mixed views on smoking are due to the fact that cigarettes did not exist at the time when the Qur’an was revealed in the 7th century A.D., these scholars are of the opinion that the nicotine habit is undeniably haram. In a decree issued by the Permanent Committee of Academic Research and Fatwa in Saudi Arabia, the statement was unanimous. “In view of the harm caused by tobacco, growing, trading in and smoking of tobacco are judged to be haram (forbidden). The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said, ‘Do not harm yourselves or others.’ Furthermore, tobacco is toxic, and God says in the Qur’an that the Prophet, (PBUH), ‘enjoins upon them that which is good and pure, and forbids them that which is harmful.’”

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