Issue No: 70
4th March 2011
28th Rabi' al Awwal, 1432 A.H
Salamun alaykum,
No Smoking Day:
The National No Smoking Day is an annual health awareness day observed on the second Wednesday in March in the United Kingdom. It is intended to help smokers who want to quit smoking. The theme for this year’s No Smoking Day, to be observed next week on 9th March 2011, is:- It’s time to quit.
Smoking- an addiction:
In the article: Smoking, or Health, Third Report 1977, p.98. published by The Royal College of Physicians “..Tobacco smoking is a form of drug dependence different from but no less strong than that of other addictive drugs—the most stable and well-adjusted person will, if he smokes at all, almost inevitably become dependent on the habit…”
Danger to Your Health:
The harmful effects of cigarette smoking, both to the active smoker and the passive smoker is universally known. Cigarette smoking causes a number of health problems that often ultimately result in death. Over 3 million people worldwide die from smoking-related causes each year.
Guidance from Holy Quran:
There are many instances where the Qur'an gives us guidelines to protect ourselves from harm. Some references are :-
…”and cast not yourselves to perdition with your own hands…” Sura Al Baqara 2:195
...nor kill (destroy)yourselves..." Sura An Nisa 4:29
Guidance from Marja Taqleed Ayatullah Al Udhama Seyyid Ali As-Seestani:
Question:
Medical literature states that smoking is the main cause for heart and cancer diseases, and it also shortens the life span of the smoker. So, what is the rule on smoking concerning (a) the beginner, (b) the compulsive smoker, and (c) the passive smoker? In the third case, the medical experts say that the smoke also harms a person sitting besides a smoker. What would be, the ruling if he considers passive smoking to be of considerable harm?
Answer:
- Smoking becomes harãm for the beginner if it entails serious harm, even at the future, regardless of whether that serious harm is certain, most probable, or just probable so much so that sensible people would demand caution. However, with the protection from serious harm (for example, by smoking less frequently), there is no problem in it.
- If continuing to smoke will cause serious harm to the compulsive smoker —as explained above— it is necessary for him to refrain from it unless the harm in quitting is similar, greater than to the harm in continuing, or the great difficulty that he will face in quitting is such that it cannot be normally tolerated.
- The same rule as explained in (a) for the beginner, applies in this case also.
(Ref: A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West : Medical issues » Question and Answers)
It’s time to quit.
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
With salaams and duas
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat