Do You Smoke ? by Sameh Strauch

In the name of  Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

"May the Peace and  Blessings of Allah be Upon You"

Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We  seek refuge with
Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad  deeds. Whomsoever Allaah
guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever  Allaah leaves astray, no one
can guide. I bear witness that there is no  god but Allaah, and I bear witness
that Muhammad is His slave and  Messenger.

Bismillah  Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu

Do You Smoke  ?
by Sameh Strauch

http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=362

Smoking was discovered by the Spanish     conquistadors in America, about 500
years ago; from Spain, it spread  to the rest of     Europe, and also to the
Muslim world about 100 years later.

Unfortunately, while the West has long realized  the dangers of  smoking and
attempted to     reduce it, in the Muslim lands, it has spread with little or no  
interference.

Early Muslim scholars, confronted with this  obnoxious habit,  declared it to be
makrooh (detested), comparing it with such things as garlic and onions. This  
was due to the fact     that, at that time, none was aware of the harmful
effects produced  by smoking, which     include, cancer, heart disease, strokes,
miscarriages and premature  birth in women and     several other diseases.

Since it has become clear that smoking is harmful,  it is  obligatory upon all
Muslims to     abstain from it, for Allaah has said: { And do not kill  
yourselves, Allaah is indeed Merciful to you } (Soorah 4:29),

And     the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Let there be no  harming
and no     reciprocating harm." (Narrated by Ahmad).

Unfortunately, some Muslims, either deliberately,  or through  ignorance, have
been     guilty of misleading Muslims, by repeating the earlier judgements of  
scholars, that     smoking is only disliked, and therefore, not forbidden.

The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu alayhi wa  sallam also said:  "The feet of
man     will not depart, on the Day of Judgement, from his standing before  his
Lord, until he is     asked about five things: His lifetime and how he spent it;
his youth  and how he used it;     his wealth - where he earned it and how he
spent it; and how he  followed what he     knew." (Narrated by At-Tirmizi)

He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam also said: "Whoever imbibes  poison, killing    
himself with it, will be consuming his poison in the Hell-fire and  will dwell
therein     eternally." (Narrated by Al-Bukhaari)

Smoking is also harmful to the human mind and  reason. One only  has to observe
a smoker     who has been deprived of his cigarettes for a while: He is rude,  
nervous, quick to anger     and incapable of concentration. He cannot relax
until he has had his  "fix". He     is affected by insomnia, indigestion,
episodes of acute anxiety and  so on…

The effect upon those around him is almost equally  unpleasant:  They have to
bear the     disgusting fumes emitted by him; even a mild rebuke habitually  
elicits a violent reaction     from the smoker, who is apparently only aware of
the violation of  what he perceives to be     his rights, i.e. his right to
inflict this foul smoke upon any  person in any place.

It has     been firmly established by scientists, that secondary smoking is at  
least, if not more     harmful than primary smoking, particularly for children.
Asthma,or  allergy sufferers are     forced to vacate the vicinity of the
smoker.

Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam  said: "Anyone  who believes    
in Allaah and the Last Day should not hurt his neighbour."

(Narrated  by Al-Bukhaari)

He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam also said: "Verily, the example  of a good    
companion and a bad one is like that of a perfume seller and a  blacksmith: As
for the     perfume seller, he would either give you (some perfume), or you  
would buy (some) from him,     or at least, you would get a good smell from him.
And as for the  blower of the bellows,     you would either get a foul odour
from him, or he would burn your  clothes." (Narrated     by Al-Bukhaari and
Muslim)

Smoking is also a waste of ones wealth on things  which offer  only harm and no    
benefit, for Allaah, Most High says: { And do not waste [your  wealth]
extravagantly. Indeed the     squanderers are brethren to the devils are
brethren to the devils }  (Soorah 17:26-27)

And the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu alayhi wa  sallam said:  "Allaah hates
for     you three things: Gossipping, begging and wasting money."

(Narrated  by Al-Bukhaari     and Muslim).

Smoking involves consuming an evil substance. It  has a noxious  smell, a
horrible taste     and is harmful to the body.

Allaah says: {  He [the Prophet] who  will enjoin upon them the doing of what is
right, forbid     them from wrongdoing, make lawful to them the good things of
life,  forbid for them the     evil things and lift from them their burdens and
the shackles that  were [formerly] upon     them } (Soorah 7:157)

A smoker is not only a faasid (corrupt  person), but also a mufsid (one     who
spreads corruption): Because of his bad example, his family  members, friends
and     colleagues may also smoke. It is useless to say: "Do as I say, and  not
as I do."     The problem is exacerbated when the smoker affects an air of  
religious piety or knowledge,     because many people will take him as a role
model. This multiplies  his sins and increases     his burden.

Genuinely pious people avoid smoking and smokers,  thus the smoker  is excluded
from the     company of the righteous.

Smokers find fasting during the month of Ramadhaan  more difficult  that
non-smokers,     because they are suffering a form of drug addiction. They
rarely  fast voluntary fasts     since even the obligatory fast is a trial for
them.

The prohibition of smoking applies equally to the  user, the  seller, the
manufacturer,     the advertiser and all those involved in its production, sale
or  consumption, for Allaah     says: { Coporate     with one another in
righteousness and piety, and do not cooperate  with one another in     sinning
and transgression. And fear Allaah; verily, Allaah is severe  in punishment }
(Soorah 5:2)

And the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu alayhi wa  sallam said: "Indeed, when    
Allaah prohibits something, he prohibits eating its price."

(Narrated by Ahmad)

So dear brothers and sisters, if you are addicted  to this foul  habit, you must
make     your intention firmly to Allaah to stop and seek aid with Him Who  
hears and sees all, and     always answers the supplication of the sincere
Believer. He, Most  High says: { And when My slaves  ask you     about Me, [oh,
Muhammad, say that] verily, I am near [in hearing,  seeing and know-ledge]:    
I answer the supplication of the one who asks when he asks Me } (Soorah 2:186)

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