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 In
the Name of Allah, Most
Gracious, Most Merciful
Suicide By Smoking
Author Unknown
Most Muslims are aware of and try to avoid the major sins in
Islam -
murder, suicide, adultery, alcohol, gambling, usury, etc.
Muslims are
forbidden to harm themselves or others. Yet millions of Muslims
all
over the world are doing just that - harming, even killing
themselves
and their families. Islamic scholars have historically had
mixed
views on the subject, and the actions of these Muslims have not
been
unanimously forbidden or even discouraged.
The danger is tobacco use - cigarette and cigar smoking, chew,
etc.
The mixed views on the subject came about because cigarettes
are a
more recent invention and did not exist at the time of the
revelation
of the Quran in the 7th century A.D. Therefore, one cannot find
a
verse of Quran or words of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him)
saying clearly that "Cigarettee smoking is forbidden." However,
there
are many instances where the Quran gives us general guidelines,
and
calls upon us to use our reason and intelligence, and seek
guidance
from Allah about what is right and wrong. In the Quran, Allah
says, "...he [the Prophet] commands them what is just, and
forbids
them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good, and
prohibits them from what is bad..." (Surah al-Ar'af 7:157). So
what
are the evils of tobacco use, for your health and for your deen
(religion)?
1. Danger to your health
Allah says, "...make not your own hands contribute to your
destruction..." (Surah al-Baqarah 2:195); "...nor kill
yourselves..."
(Surah al-Nisaa 4:29).It is universally understood that
cigarette
smoking causes a number of health problems that often
ultimately
result in death. Men who smoke contract lung cancer at 22 times
the
rate of non-smokers. Smokers are also highly at risk for heart
disease, emphysema, oral cancer, stroke, etc. There are
hundreds of
poisonous and toxic ingredients in the cigarette itself that
the
smoker inhales straight into the lungs. In an authentic hadith,
the
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that "Whomsoever
drinks
poison, thereby killing himself, will sip this poison forever
and
ever in the fire of Jahannum (Hell)." Over 3 million people
worldwide
die from smoking-related causes each year.
2. Danger to your family's health
In the Quran, Allah says: "Those who annoy believing men and
women
undeservedly bear on themselves a glaring sin" (Surat al-Ahzaab
33:58). And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that "there
should
be neither harming, nor reciprocating harm." In another hadith,
the
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Anyone who believes in Allah
and
the Last Day should not hurt his neighbor." Those around the
smoker
inhale what is known as "second-hand smoke" - the unfiltered,
poisonous waste that goes in the air around the smoker. There
are
over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, over 40 of which are
known
to cause cancer. Second-hand smoke causes or aggravates asthma,
bronchitis, and other respiratory problems, especially in
children.
3. Addictive
The addiction to tobacco is a physical response that often
interferes
with one's life and worship. For example, most Muslims are
aware that
it is forbidden to smoke during the fasting days of Ramadan.
Many of
these addicted smokers spend their fasting days sleeping,
cranky, and
short-tempered, just counting the hours until they can have
their
fix. There have been times when the most severely addicted will
wait
outside the masjid door for the adhan, and break their fast by
lighting up, before taking even food or water.
4. Noxious Smell
Muslims are advised to refrain from eating raw onions and
garlic -
simply as a courtesy to those around them. Nobody likes the
smell.
The same goes even more so for the reek of cigarettes, which
permeates everything around the smoker - hair, clothing, home,
car,
etc. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever has eaten
from
such greens as garlic, onions or leek should keep away from our
mosque." Many smokers try to hide the smell by using breath
mints or
perfume. This does not get rid of the smell, it only masks it.
Often
the combination of smells is even more nauseating.
5. Waste of Money
Allah says, "...But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the
manner
of a spendthrift. Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the
devils..."
{Surah al-Israa' 17:26-27} And in an authentic hadith the
Prophet
(peace be upon him) said that: "Allah hates for you three
things:
gossiping, begging, and wasting money." In the U.S. and other
countries, cigarettes are taxed heavily in order to discourage
this
habit and reimburse the government for the overwhelming health
care
costs to care for those afflicted with diseases caused by
smoking.
Smokers often spend thousands of dollars a year that literally
just
go up in smoke.
Recent Opinions of Scholars
In more recent times, as these dangers of tobacco use have come
to be
proven beyond any doubt, scholars have become more unanimous in
pronouncing tobacco use clearly haram (forbidden) to believers.
They
now use the strongest terms to condemn this habit.
How to Quit?
As mentioned, one of the dangers of tobacco is that it is so
addicting. It causes a physical response in your body when you
try to
give it up. Therefore, quitting is often difficult. However,
with the
help of Allah and the personal commitment to improve yourself
for the
sake of Allah, and for your own health, it is possible. It is
first
recommended to make the firm intention, from deep in your
heart, to
give up this evil habit. Trust in Allah's words: "...When you
have
taken a decision, put your trust in Allah. For Allah loves
those who
put their trust in Him. If Allah help you, none can overcome
you; if
He forsakes you, who is - after that - that can help you? In
Allah,
then, let believers put their trust" (Surah Al-'lmran
3:159-160).
Secondly, one must avoid situations where you are used to
smoking,
and people who do so around you. For example, if you have
certain
friends who gather together and they all constantly smoke -
make a
choice (Allah gave you free will to choose!) to stay away from
that
environment for the time being. At a vulnerable stage, it is
too easy
to get sucked back in by having "just one." Remember, tobacco
causes
a physical addiction and you must stay away completely. Drink a
lot
of water and keep yourself busy in other endeavors. Go to the
masjid.
Play sports. And remember the words of Allah: "And those who
strive
hard in Our Cause, We will certainly guide them to Our Paths,
for
verily Allah is with those who do right" (Surah al-Ankabut
29:69).
For more information about the proven dangers of smoking, and
advice
on how to quit, visit About.com's Smoking Cessation website.
Living With a Smoker
If you live with or are friends with smokers, first of all
encourage
them to quit, for the sake of Allah, their deen, and their
health. If
they refuse (and ultimately we will face Allah alone), you have
the
right to protect your own health and the health of your
children. Do
not allow it in the house. Do not allow it in enclosed quarters
with
your family. Even if the smoker is a parent, we are not to obey
our
parents in things which are forbidden by Allah.
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