I swore that I will quit smoking. However, I have the intention to go back to smoking, what is the ruling? What shall I do?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

Referring to your question, I would like to say that contemporary scholars have agreed that a Muslim should quit smoking as it has many negative effects on health. I followed up all fatwas (juridical verdicts) about smoking to find out that some scholars say that smoking is considered not desirable while others say it is haram (unlawful). The general Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian lands Shaikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussain (May Allah protect him) was once asked about the ruling on opening a shop where one can sell tobacco, cigarettes and hookah, and whether it is not desirable or unlawful. He said that the Islamic Shari’a stands on five pillars: preservation of people’s life, their mind, their property, their religion and their honor. Thus, Islam prohibits Muslims from dealing with anything that could be harmful or which could badly affect their health, minds, money, honor and religion. Um Salama RRA reported that the messenger of Allah (PBUH) forbade every intoxicant and everything which produces languidness. Sunan Abu Dawood.

Scientific institutions and health organizations have proved that smoking has many negative effects on health. They have proved that it is the main cause for many serious diseases. Moreover, Islamic Shari’a scholars agreed that smoking is haram, and a Muslim must quit smoking. Allah says: : “He allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure).”  Al-A’raf: 157. Ibn Abbas RRA narrated: The messenger of Allah said: “There should neither be harming, nor reciprocating harm.”

Nevertheless, since this issue is considered a discretionary issue, in other words, there is no final decision whether to consider smoking haram or undesirable, we can say that smoking or trading with tobacco and hookah is not desirable; in other words, it is almost unlawful.

There is still one idea we should point at. Muslims should avoid doing both: the unlawful deed and undesirable one. However, the major difference is that whoever considers what is really unlawful (haram) as halal (lawful) will be excluded from Muslim sector, but whoever considers what is undesirable as halal will not be excluded from the Muslim sector.

Originally, a Muslim must not smoke without the need to swear; he is also asked to observe duties without swearing. However, if a Muslim swears to quit smoking, they are asked to observe their oath.

It is worth noting, that if a Muslim takes an oath to do something bad, it is better not to observe that oath, not to do the deed (upon which they swore), and to do what is right after making expiation. Abdul-Rahman Ibn Samurah narrated: “The messenger of Allah said to me: “When you take an oath and consider something else to be better than it, make expiation for your oath and choose the better alternative.” Agreed Upon

Thus, if smoking is considered to be haram, Muslims must not smoke. If it doubtful, Muslims must avoid it. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The lawful is clear, and the unlawful is clear, but between them there are matters that are doubtful; many people do not know whether they are lawful or unlawful. So, whoever saves himself from these suspicious things, they save their religion and their honor. And whoever indulges in these suspicious things, they fall in the unlawful just like the shepherd who pastures his animals around the preserve, he will soon pasture them in it. Every king has a preserve, and Allah’s preserve is the things He declared unlawful.” Related by Muslim.  

Finally, as you swore to quit smoking, you must really observe your oath. Allah says: “and break not the oaths after you have confirmed them.” An-Nahl: 91

A Muslim is not excused if they do not quit smoking as they may think that they cannot. By determination, a strong will, and repentance, they can leave it forever.

To conclude, you must observe your oath and ask Allah to strengthen you.

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