Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Date Added : 28-12-2015

Resolution No.(109): "Ruling on Smoking and Selling Cigarettes"

On 3/5/1427 AH, corresponding to 30/5/2006 AD

 

We received the following question: 

What is the position of religion on selling cigarettes, hobble bubble (water pipe), all kinds of tobacco and renting out stores for this purpose?

Answer: All of success is due to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds

 

The Board of Iftaa’ sees that tobacco and all its kinds were not known in the time of the prophet and his companions - may Allah Be Pleased with them - nor in the time of the scholars of the main doctrines. Tobacco came to be known in the eleventh Hijri/Islamic century, and as there is no religious text that forbids it, and as it does not intoxicate, the scholars have disagreed over the religious stand on smoking whether it is forbidden, disliked, or allowed in accordance to their understanding of what harm it may cause the smoker.

 

  Studies have proved much harm caused by smoking to health, environment, society and economy. Cigarettes contain poisonous nicotine, and the ratio of smokers who suffer from cancer is very high. Its harm extends to the nonsmokers who happen to be present in places where people smoke as they actually inhale the smoke with air, it penetrates their bodies, and they get affected directly by its hateful smell. In addition it is very harmful economically and is considered as extravagance and reckless spending, because Allah The Almighty Says (What means): “And waste not by extravagance. Verily, He likes not those who waste by extravagance.” [Al-An'aam/141]. In addition, Allah The Almighty Says (What means): “Verily the spendthrifts are brothers of the devils” [Al-Israa'/27]. In Jordan, as sources reveal, the yearly waste expenditures that result from smoking exceed one billion and five million Jordanian dinars.

 

   Consequently, the Iftaa’ Board thinks that smoking is a general calamity. Thus, the Board sees that smoking is forbidden to whoever is ascertain that it causes serious damage, or whose cure is delayed because of this bad habit. In this regard, Allah, The Most Exalted, Said (What means): “And do not kill (or destroy) yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you!” [Al-Israa'/29]. Smoking becomes surely forbidden for the one who spends all his money on cigarettes and deprives himself and his family of life necessities such as food, drinks, clothes, house rent, medicine or education. The prophet (PBUH) says: “It is enough sin for a person to thwart those whom he supports.” (1)

 

  Smoking becomes also forbidden in public places such as mosques, hospitals, busses, cars, schools and other places where nonsmokers exist. It becomes forbidden in these places because it is forbidden for a Muslim to hurt others, as the prophet (PBUH) says: “Don’t cause any harm to yourself nor hurt others.” (2) He also said: “A Muslim is the one who other Muslims are safe from his tongue and hand,” i.e. who does not hurt others with his tongue nor with his hand. (3) Consequently, and because of the disastrous harms caused by smoking to health, environment, and economy, the Iftaa’ Board sees that resisting smoking with all possible means is obligatory and that publicizing it or encouraging others to smoke must be prohibited.

 

  For all of the above, the Board of Iftaa’ recommends people neither to sell cigarettes, tobacco nor hobble bobble in their stores nor to rent out places to be used for these purposes. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Iftaa’ Board

Head of the Iftaa’ Board

The Supreme Judge/ Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Helayel

                                Shaikh Abdel Kareem al-Khasawneh            

Dr. Yusuf Ali Ghayithan

                                Dr. Abdel Majeed el-Salaheen                     

                 Dr. Wasef Abdel Wahaab el-Bakri

                                  Sheikh Na’eem Muhammad Mujahed           

                       Sheikh Said Abdel Hafeeth al-Hajjawi

 

 

 

(1) Narrated by Al Nisaa’iy in Al-Sunan Al-Kubra (The Great Reports of the Prophet, (vol.5/pp.374) from Abdullah Bin Amro. It is also in Muslim no.(996) but in different words: "It is enough sin for a believer to prevent his support from those whom he owns."

(2) Narrated by Ibn Majeh in Sunan, Book of Rules, under the title He Who Builds on His Place What Hurts His Neighbor, Hadeeth/saying no.(2340). Al-Nawawy said in Al-Athkaar "it is graded as sound/Saheeh narration" (pp.502).

(3) Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Book of Faith, under the title the Muslim is he who other Muslims are safe from his tongue and hand, hadeeth/saying no.(10). Also narrated by Muslim in Book of Faith under the title Which Status is Better in Islam, hadeeth/saying no.(40).

(4) This advice is by what is mentioned above about smoking being forbidden.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

I wish to Pray at the Mosque, but I couldn't because I am a Woman. How can I get such a Reward?

All perfect praise be to Allah The Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Abdullah Ibn Masood (May Allah be Pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Her prayer inside her home is better than its courtyard, and her prayer in her own bedroom is better than inside her home." [Abu Dawood]. Her staying at home, and not going to the mosque in obedience to Allah`s injunctions entails a great reward similar to that bestowed on a man for going to the mosque since the Mercy and Blessings of Allah Prevails. And Allah Knows Best.

If the fasting of nine years has accumulated upon me, I wish to make them up by dividing them over several years, as it is difficult to fast them all in one year due to their large number. Consequently, expiation will be due on me. Is it permissible to pay the expiation after completing all the make-up fasts, even if it takes years?
 
 
 
 
 

If the fasting was broken due to a valid legal excuse, it is permissible to divide the make-up fasts over several years based on one’s ability. However, if a person passes away before completing the make-up fasts, the heirs must fast on their behalf or feed one needy person for each missed day.
If the fasting was broken without a valid excuse, one must hasten to make it up. Should the person die before completing the make-up fasts, the heirs must either fast or feed the needy on their behalf. As for the expiation, it is calculated after completing all the make-up fasts. And Allah Knows Best.
 
 
 
 
 

Is it permissible for a father to divide his property amongst his children except one under the pretext that he has paid for the latter`s tuition? This is knowing that his other children were given the opportunity to pursue their education but didn`t because they were educationally poor. Moreover, is he allowed to give his other children who have helped him with growing his business?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah`s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
The father should be just between his children as regards gifts, in case they had similar circumstances. However, if any had a special merit, then it is permissible for the father to take that into account to be just. For example, giving his children who have helped in making his fortune and received no reward for that or giving the little ones because they haven`t taken as much as the older ones or giving the sick child who is unable to make a living. The most important thing is achieving justice. Moreover, the father is not interdicted by any of his children, and he is free to do whatever he wants with his money and Allah will call him to account as regards observing justice between his children. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Is it permissible for me to eat from the animal that I slaughtered for Allah to protect my family?

It is permissible to eat from the non-vowed animal sacrifice, and the person is rewarded based on the amount of meat that he had given to the poor. However, there is no evidence in Islamic Sharia indicating that slaughtering an animal protects one`s family, but it is a way for thanking Allah, The Almighty, for his grace.