Issue No: 114
16th March 2012
23rd Rabi'al Thaani 1433 A.H.
Salamun alaykum,
Take the leap:
This is the theme for the National No Smoking Day observed in the United Kingdom on 14th March, 2012. This annual health awareness day ,observed on the second Wednesday in March, is intended to help smokers who want to quit smoking to ‘take the leap’ over smoking and give it a go to quit.
Danger to Your Health:
Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 different chemicals. At least 50 are known carcinogens (cause cancer in humans) and many are poisonous.
The harmful effects of cigarette smoking, both to the active smoker and the passive smoker are universally known. Cigarette smoking causes a number of health problems that often ultimately result in death. Over 3 million people worldwide die from smoking-related causes each year.
Hubbly Bubbly: The Hookah / Shisha Fad:
Stepping aside from cigarette smoking some people have taken up smoking the ‘Shisha or ‘Hookah’ - the traditional Middle Eastern pipes. This habit is now considered to be cool in town.
"Contrary to popular belief, shisha is not safer than smoking cigarettes.” said Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation. Shisha smoking is linked to the same serious and life-threatening diseases as cigarettes.
Smoking- an addiction:
In the article: Smoking, or Health, Third Report 1977, p.98. published by The Royal College of Physicians “..Tobacco smoking is a form of drug dependence different from but no less strong than that of other addictive drugs—the most stable and well-adjusted person will, if he smokes at all, almost inevitably become dependent on the habit…”
Break the habit:
Most smokers would really like to stop, but find it hard to do so. Habits like smoking are difficult to break. However the effort is Divinely rewarded.
“The best of worship is to abandon the (harmful) habits.” Imam Ali bin Abi Talib a.s.
Divine Guidance:
As muslims our attention is drawn to the verses in the holy Quran to protect ourselves from harm:-
…"and cast not yourselves to perdition with your own hands…” Sura Al Baqara 2:195
"...nor kill (destroy) yourselves..." Sura An Nisa 4:29
Guidance from Marja Taqleed Ayatullah Al Udhama Seyyid Ali
As-Seestani:
Question:
Medical literature states that smoking is the main cause for heart and cancer diseases, and it also shortens the life span of the smoker. So, what is the rule on smoking concerning (a) the beginner, (b) the compulsive smoker, and (c) the passive smoker? In the third case, the medical experts say that the smoke also harms a person sitting besides a smoker. What would be, the ruling if he considers passive smoking to be of considerable harm?
Answer:
(a)Smoking becomes harãm for the beginner if it entails serious harm, even at the future, regardless of whether that serious harm is certain, most probable, or just probable so much so that sensible people would demand caution. However, with the protection from serious harm (for example, by smoking less frequently), there is no problem in it.
(b)If continuing to smoke will cause serious harm to the compulsive smoker —as explained above— it is necessary for him to refrain from it unless the harm in quitting is similar, greater than to the harm in continuing, or the great difficulty that he will face in quitting is such that it cannot be normally tolerated.
(c)The same rule as explained in (a) for the beginner, applies in this case also.
Is it not now time to take a leap?
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat