ISLAMIC RULINGS ON SMOKING
It is well known in the teachings of Islam that our body is a trust from Almighty Allah and that no one has the right to alter his/her physical appearance according to his own preference to put his life in danger or to utilize those means which will cause harm to one's health. Undoubtedly, there are foods and drinks which are good and beneficial to the body and others which are bad and harmful.
Allah (S.A.W) says in Q4 vs 29: ..."And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely Allah is Most Merciful to you".
Rasulullah in his hadith says "Whoever, by taking poison killed himself, his abode will be the hellfire.” (Sahih Muslim).
Studies in the Qur'an, Hadith and concensus of majority of scholars has declared that smoking is forbidden to any believer of Allah and His messenger. The producers of cigar and other smoking stuff has it clearly stated that "smoker are liable to die young." In Islam, anything harmful to human is forbidden. No one can deny the fact that smoking is harmful to the human body.
Medical experts have established that cigarettes are hazardous because it a contains carbonmonoxide, nicotine, tar, etc which are all harmful to human health. When taken in the harm accumulates with time to result in a gradual killing of the human organs and tissues.
We are all running away from Ebola and Lassa fever but we fail to know that its senior is in smoking substances. Subhanallah!
Among the many health hazards that have been linked to smoking by scientists are tuberculosis, cancer, heart attack, high blood pressure, asthma, infections in the respiratory and digestive track, mouth and teeth diseases, e.t.c. These health hazards are sufficient to prohibit smoking. This is solely because Islam forbids any action that causes harm to oneself or to other people.
The money spent on smoking is considered as money wasted, from which no benefit is derived. Indeed, it is money spent on something harmful. If the money spent on smoking worldwide were collected, it would have saved the entire population of those who died of starvation. Is there anyone more foolish than one who holds his money and sets fire on it? What's the difference between him and the smoker? The smoker is more foolish, because the folly of the one who burns his money ends there whilst the smoker burns his money and also harms his body.
A lot of disasters have been caused by smoking because of cigarette bults which are thrown away and accidentally causes fire. Other disasters have been caused in other ways as when a house was burned down with its occupants inside, when a man lit his cigar when there was a gas leak.
Also, just by the smell of the smoker, most people get offended. Wallahi, a nasty smell like that of garlic is far better than the smell of smoker's mouth. In conclusion, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said: No harm may be inflicted to oneself or others. The feet of a human being will not depart on the day of Judgement from their standing before their Lord until they're questioned about: his lifetime how he passed it: his youth - how he used it, his wealth how he earned it and how he spent it; and lastly how he followed what be learned. That whoever consumes poison, killing himself with it, then he will be consuming his poison in Hell fire.
May Allah azza wa jala protect us all from the Hell fire (Ameen!!!).