Fatwa ID: 01498

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

Selling and working in a tobacco factory

Answer:

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Scholars all over the world differ on the ruling of smoking. Arab scholars are of the view that smoking is Haraam as it is a slow method of suicide and commiting suicide is haraam in Islam. Furthermore, it creates bad smell and is a waste of money.

Allah in the Holy Qur’an has said;

“And do not put yourselves into destruction.” (Surah Al Baqarah V.195)

“And do not squander recklessly. Surely, squanderers are brothers to Shaitan, and the Shaitan is very ungrateful to his lord. (Surah Bani Israaeel V.27)

Scholars from the Indian Sub Continent are of the view that smoking is Makruh Tahrimi as there is not enough strength in the above reasons to say it is Haraam. Makruh Tahrimi is a disliked act very close to Haram.

Based on what the Arab scholars say, selling cigarettes will be impermissible. However, according to the scholars of the Indian Sub Continent it will be permissible as Mufti Rashid Ahmad stated in his Ahsanul Fatawa on page 495 volume 6.

To be on the safe side it is best that one avoids selling cigarettes. The same ruling also applies in terms of working in a tobacco factory.

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham