Derived from: Fatawa Ulama-e-Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Volume 1
"وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ"
(Surah Al-A'raf: 157)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"لَا ضَرَرَ وَلَا ضِرَارَ"
(Sunan Ibn Majah)
"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)
❖ 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)