Why Smoking Cigar is Not Haram in Islam
C.J Ahmed-11.06.2023
Cigar is a a fat and larger form of cigarette which contains dried and fermented tobacco. In general all kinds of smoking including cigars is not haram in Islam because there is absolutely no evidence to prove from the Quran or the authentic hadiths stating so.
Analysing the Arguments of Those Who Say That Smoking is Haram
The most famous verse among those who ay that smoking is haram has nothing to do with smoking in the first place. The verse is as follows,
“And make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction.”(Quran-2:195)
The above verse was revealed regarding Jihad and is taken out of context to mean that smoking is haram. The following authentic hadith clearly explains why the above verse as revealed,
Narrated AbuAyyub:
AbuImran said: We went out on an expedition from Medina with the intention of (attacking) Constantinople. AbdurRahman ibn Khalid ibn al-Walid was the leader of the company. The Romans were just keeping their backs to the walls of the city. A man (suddenly) attacked the enemy. Thereupon the people said: Stop! Stop! There is no god but Allah. He is putting himself into danger.
AbuAyyub said: This verse was revealed about us, the group of the Ansar (the Helpers). When Allah helped His Prophet (sal) and gave Islam dominance, we said (i.e. thought): Come on! Let us stay in our property and improve it.
Thereupon Allah, the Exalted, revealed, "And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your hands contribute to (your destruction)". To put oneself into danger means that we stay in our property and commit ourselves to its improvement, and abandon fighting (i.e. jihad).
Abu Imran said: AbuAyyub continued to strive in the cause of Allah until he (died and) was buried in Constantinople. (Abu Dawud-Book 14, Hadith 2506-Graded Sahih by Sheikh Albani)
There is a similer vere in the Quran which is also quoted by those who view that smoking is haram in which Allah (swt) says,
"Do not kill yourself. Allah is Merciful unto you." (4:29)
The above verse is given a looe interpretation to give an umbrella fatwa to forbid smoking. Once again this verse to has nothing to do with smoking. This verse is amout committing suicide and murder and trying to argue that smoking is a form of suicide is erroneous. Th other verse is as follows,
"And He makes good things halaal for them and bad things haraam."(Quran-7:157)
The above verse is about foods which are made halal nd if smoking is haram, it would have been clerly prohibited in the Quran or authentic hadiths but there is no mention of such prohibition.
There is a famous hadith that s used to forbid smoking and it has nothing to do with smoking.
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The prophet (sal) said,“Do not cause harm or return harm. Whoever harms others, Allah will harm him. Whoever is harsh with others, Allah will be harsh with him.” (Baihaqi-Graded Sahih by Albani)
The above hadith is taken out of context. This hadith talks about harming people by which has been mentione clearly in other verse and hadiths such as killing or maiming or injuring a Muslim and including smoking in to this hadith is nothing but including ones own opinion basedon your own like and dislikes. If Allah (swt) and his messenger (sal) have not sanctioned something in Islam, then no one has the right to make it forbidden according to their personal opinions.
Is Smoking a Form of Suicide?
Suicide is injuring yourself physically using various means such as taking sleeping pils in a large amount or stabbing or harmig oneself with the intention of taking your life and some try to compare suicide with smoking. They argue that smoking slowly kills you hence it is suicice. If we try to this foolish argument and compare suicide to smoking, then eting cholates is suicide, eating junk food is suicide, drinking soft drinks is suicide and even taking certain mdications is aslo suicide because all of them can contribute some one or more health problems in the long run. According to them, lmost every ativity will become haram bsed on this foolish argument.
Burning Incense and Smoking
Those who are against smoking must understand that burning incense will also make you inhale smoke to your lungs and there is clear hadith evidnce toprove that the prophet (sal) used to used burn camphor.
Nafi Narrated that Ibn Umar used to burn pure Oudh and camphor mixed with Oudh as incense fragrance. He said “Likewise, Rasullullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) used to burn incense.”(Sahih Muslim-2254)
Are thee Ulama going to prohibit burning incense because the smoke can be inhaled?. According to WebMD, inhling large amounts of camphor can also cause toxi effects. You can read the article here https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-709/camphor#:~:text=This%20can%20cause%20severe%20burns,camphor%20can%20cause%20toxic%20effects
It is clear that smoking cigars is not haram in Islam.
Cigar is a a fat and larger form of cigarette which contains dried and fermented tobacco. In general all kinds of smoking including cigars is not haram in Islam because there is absolutely no evidence to prove from the Quran or the authentic hadiths stating so.
Analysing the Arguments of Those Who Say That Smoking is Haram
The most famous verse among those who ay that smoking is haram has nothing to do with smoking in the first place. The verse is as follows,
“And make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction.”(Quran-2:195)
The above verse was revealed regarding Jihad and is taken out of context to mean that smoking is haram. The following authentic hadith clearly explains why the above verse as revealed,
Narrated AbuAyyub:
AbuImran said: We went out on an expedition from Medina with the intention of (attacking) Constantinople. AbdurRahman ibn Khalid ibn al-Walid was the leader of the company. The Romans were just keeping their backs to the walls of the city. A man (suddenly) attacked the enemy. Thereupon the people said: Stop! Stop! There is no god but Allah. He is putting himself into danger.
AbuAyyub said: This verse was revealed about us, the group of the Ansar (the Helpers). When Allah helped His Prophet (sal) and gave Islam dominance, we said (i.e. thought): Come on! Let us stay in our property and improve it.
Thereupon Allah, the Exalted, revealed, "And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your hands contribute to (your destruction)". To put oneself into danger means that we stay in our property and commit ourselves to its improvement, and abandon fighting (i.e. jihad).
Abu Imran said: AbuAyyub continued to strive in the cause of Allah until he (died and) was buried in Constantinople. (Abu Dawud-Book 14, Hadith 2506-Graded Sahih by Sheikh Albani)
There is a similer vere in the Quran which is also quoted by those who view that smoking is haram in which Allah (swt) says,
"Do not kill yourself. Allah is Merciful unto you." (4:29)
The above verse is given a looe interpretation to give an umbrella fatwa to forbid smoking. Once again this verse to has nothing to do with smoking. This verse is amout committing suicide and murder and trying to argue that smoking is a form of suicide is erroneous. Th other verse is as follows,
"And He makes good things halaal for them and bad things haraam."(Quran-7:157)
The above verse is about foods which are made halal nd if smoking is haram, it would have been clerly prohibited in the Quran or authentic hadiths but there is no mention of such prohibition.
There is a famous hadith that s used to forbid smoking and it has nothing to do with smoking.
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The prophet (sal) said,“Do not cause harm or return harm. Whoever harms others, Allah will harm him. Whoever is harsh with others, Allah will be harsh with him.” (Baihaqi-Graded Sahih by Albani)
The above hadith is taken out of context. This hadith talks about harming people by which has been mentione clearly in other verse and hadiths such as killing or maiming or injuring a Muslim and including smoking in to this hadith is nothing but including ones own opinion basedon your own like and dislikes. If Allah (swt) and his messenger (sal) have not sanctioned something in Islam, then no one has the right to make it forbidden according to their personal opinions.
Is Smoking a Form of Suicide?
Suicide is injuring yourself physically using various means such as taking sleeping pils in a large amount or stabbing or harmig oneself with the intention of taking your life and some try to compare suicide with smoking. They argue that smoking slowly kills you hence it is suicice. If we try to this foolish argument and compare suicide to smoking, then eting cholates is suicide, eating junk food is suicide, drinking soft drinks is suicide and even taking certain mdications is aslo suicide because all of them can contribute some one or more health problems in the long run. According to them, lmost every ativity will become haram bsed on this foolish argument.
Burning Incense and Smoking
Those who are against smoking must understand that burning incense will also make you inhale smoke to your lungs and there is clear hadith evidnce toprove that the prophet (sal) used to used burn camphor.
Nafi Narrated that Ibn Umar used to burn pure Oudh and camphor mixed with Oudh as incense fragrance. He said “Likewise, Rasullullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) used to burn incense.”(Sahih Muslim-2254)
Are thee Ulama going to prohibit burning incense because the smoke can be inhaled?. According to WebMD, inhling large amounts of camphor can also cause toxi effects. You can read the article here https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-709/camphor#:~:text=This%20can%20cause%20severe%20burns,camphor%20can%20cause%20toxic%20effects
It is clear that smoking cigars is not haram in Islam.