Derived from: Fatawa Ulama-e-Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Volume 1
❖ Question
Is it permissible to use tobacco in the following forms: smoking through hookah, beedi, cigarette, and shisha; chewing it in paan, gutka, or betel nut mixtures; or applying its powdered leaves on wounds or wrapping them around cuts to stop bleeding? Please respond in light of the Qur’an and Hadith.
❖ The Ruling
All the aforementioned uses of tobacco—whether inhaled as smoke or consumed in any edible or medicinal form—are haram (prohibited). This is because tobacco is a filthy substance (خبیث) and causes numerous harms and damages. Allah ﷻ has made pure things lawful for His servants and impure, filthy things unlawful.
❖ Divine Command
Allah ﷻ says:
“وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ“
(Surah Al-A’raf: 157)
❖ Harmful and Intoxicating
Tobacco contains harmful and intoxicating elements, and its use in any form is haram—whether it is smoked, chewed, or consumed otherwise.
❖ The Obligation to Quit
Every Muslim is obligated to immediately abandon tobacco use, repent to Allah, seek forgiveness, and express remorse for this sin. Furthermore, he must make a firm resolution never to return to this practice again.
❖ Global Awareness and Efforts
Nations across the world, both Muslim and non-Muslim, are now actively campaigning against smoking, recognizing its severe harmful effects. Islam, however, had already declared every harmful thing as haram from the very beginning.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“لَا ضَرَرَ وَلَا ضِرَارَ“
(Sunan Ibn Majah)
❖ The Reason Behind Prohibition
Among edible and consumable things, some are pure and beneficial while others are impure and harmful. The question arises: Are cigarettes, hookah, and other tobacco forms pure or filthy? The clear answer is that they are filthy and harmful.
❖ Hadith on Wastefulness
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
“إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَرِهَ لَكُمْ قِيلَ وَقَالَ، وَإِضَاعَةَ الْمَالِ، وَكَثْرَةَ السُّؤَالِ“
(Sahih Bukhari)
Allah ﷻ says:
“وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ“
(Surah Al-A’raf: 31)
❖ Wasteful Expenditure
It is now globally recognized that money spent on cigarettes and hookah is a waste. This wealth is not only squandered, but it is spent on harmful substances. If the funds spent on smoking were redirected, they could aid starving societies around the world.
❖ Encouragement to Avoid Smoking
What is the difference between someone who wastes money and someone who smokes cigarettes? In fact, the smoker is at a greater loss, for he is not only burning money but also damaging his own body.
❖ Ruling on Using Tobacco on Wounds
As for using tobacco on wounds, it should also be avoided in light of blocking means (سد ذرائع), so that all forms of tobacco use can be eradicated from society. When society refrains from tobacco, there will be no need to cultivate it. Therefore, one should avoid doubtful matters and adopt clean and lawful alternatives.
