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Prescription | Quit Smoking Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) There are many who write to me, complaining of their addiction to smoking, and sincerely wanting to quit the bad habit. The prescription I give, which Alhamdulillah many have found effective as a remedy, is as follows : 1.) As Muslims, we are always taking the purename of Allah Ta’ala and praising Him in some way or the other. Consider the Salaam (or greeting) that we are encouraged to offer to others, in abundance: Beside the fact that it is a Dua and a form ofIbaadah (worship), it contains the pure name of Allah Ta’ala: ‘As-Salaam’. Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi (رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ), had quoted the following Hadeeth in his Tafseer (commentary) of the Qur`aan Shareef, ‘Ma’ariful Qur`aan’: Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood(رَضِىَ الله عَنْهُ) related that Rasulullah ﷺ said: Salaam is one of the names of Allah Almighty with which He has blessed the people of the earth. So make Salaam a common practice among you because, when a Muslim goes to a gathering of people and offers his salaam to them, he is blessed with a station of distinction in the sight of Allah Ta’ala as he reminded everyone of Salaam; that is, reminded everyone of Allah Ta’ala… Does it then befit a Mu’min(Believer) to utter the name of Allah Ta’ala with the accompanying odour of tobacco? …No. 2.) In relation to the above point, we should keep in mind that the Qur`aan Shareef as well as the Ahaadeeth encourage us to occupy the tongue in the Zikr of Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta’ala states in Surah Ahzaab: يٰٓأَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللّٰهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيْرًا ◌ “O you who believe, remember Allah abundantly.” [Surah Ahzaab 33 : 41] Rasulullah ﷺ mentioned in one of numerous Ahaadeeth relating to the Zikr(Remembrance) of Allah Ta’ala: “Keep your tongue always moist (i.e. busy) with the Zikr of Allah.”[1] We have to read Duas when wearing clothes, before and after leaving the toilet, when driving, entering and leaving home, before and after eating and drinking, etc. …On different occasions, Duas are to be recited. All of these contain the name and ‘Hamd’(praise) of Allah Ta’ala. Often,Aayaah (verses) of the Qur`aan Shareef are read in the form of Dua. Furthermore, a Muslim has to sometimes say, regarding a future action: ‘Insha-Allah’[2],or sometimes congratulate by saying : ‘Masha-Allah’[3]; in his grief and sorrow he will say: ‘Inna Lillah…’[4] and for the bounties which he is blessed with, he will say:‘Alhamdulillah’[5], when thanking someone, he will say: ‘JazakAllah’[6], etc. We have also been encouraged by Rasulullah ﷺto read Durood[7] and Salaam[8] upon him in abundance. In fact, the practice of conveying Durood is rendered by Allah Ta’ala, Himself. Allah Ta’ala mentions: إِنَّ اللّٰهَ وَمَلٰٓئِكَتَهٗ يُصَلُّوْنَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ط يٰٓأَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا صَلُّوْا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوْا تَسْلِيْمًا ◌ “Verily, Allah and His angels send blessings on the Nabi: O you who Believe, send (you) blessings on him and salute him with all respect.” [Surah Ahzaab 33 : 56] 3.) Consider the fact that when in the mother’s womb, Allah Ta’ala preserved our mouths from being polluted, by having us nourished with our mother’s blood, through the medium of the umbilical cord attached to the navel, and not the mouth. Why? …Because the Shari'ah classifies and catergorises blood asnajis (filth). Thus, from the inception of our physical creation, Allah Ta’ala preserved the mouth from impurity and reserved it for the Tilawah (recitation) of the Qur`aan Shareef, Zikrullah, Durood Shareef upon Rasulullah ﷺ as well as Nasihah (advice) tended for the benefit and goodness of others. When Allah Ta’ala took such care in protecting our mouths from filth, we too should take care in preserving the cleanliness of our mouths. 4.) Added to this, we should abstain from smoking out of respect for the Malaa`ikah(angels) who are exceptionally and extremely sensitive to smell. Our Beloved Nabiﷺ instructed that a person who has eaten garlic and onions stays away from the Masjid (mosque), until he rids his mouth of the odour, due to the fact that annoyance is caused to the angels as well as Musallies[9]. What then would be said of the smell of cigarettes and tobacco? Some of the Sunnats of the Ambiyaa[10] (عَليْهِمُ السَّلام) arehayaa (modesty), itr (scent) and siwaak (tooth-stick). Why the ‘siwaak’ or miswaak? …Nabi ﷺ used the miswaak in abundance, even though there was never any bad odour emitted from the mouth or even the body of Rasulullahﷺ. Beside the fact that Hazrat Jibra`eel[11] (عَليْهِ السَّلام)was delivering Wahi(revelation) from Allah Ta’ala, this practice of miswaak was to also teach us the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of the mouth. 5.) Moreover, we should consider the fact that we generally cause distress and inconvenience to so many non-smokers, who find smoking a very disagreeable habit. This then is a violation of their rights. So many women endure this offensive and bad habit of their husbands. Had these women been the smokers and the husbands, non-smokers, then they would know how unpleasant and disturbing the habit is. I, personally, get a headache if I have to sit in a car, in which the driver or passengers or even the ashtray has a cigarette smell. Although I adopt Sabr (patience), the truth is that I feel like stopping the driver and getting off. If, in the Masjid, I happen to stand next to a person with the filthy smell of cigarettes, I feel like moving away if the Salaah has not commenced. …Just imagine how many others must be feeling the same way. …An important branch of Shari'ah is Islamic Social life (Mu’aasharaat). Simply explained, it is to consider others before ourselves – i.e. by refraining from annoying, inconveniencing and hurting others. This is one of the branches of Shari'ah which the true Walis (friends) of Allah Ta’ala greatly emphasize and impress upon. It is unfortunate that we do not give importance to such matters. Due to scant regard for Mu’aasharaat, we are losing the Noor of our Zikr and Ibaadat[12]. 6.) I always tell the persons interested : So much of money is saved in giving up smoking. …Consider as to how many Hajj you have already burnt. How many widows, orphans, poor and needy could have been sustained with that which you burnt... And the fact of the matter is that all those cigarettes were of no benefit to your physical health and well being. When so many have given up drug addictions, what then are cigarette addictions? The next time you take a cigarette, reflect over the following: I am burning money, harming my health, inconveniencing others, and my mouth is so filthy that no angel or human being wants to be near me. Make Dua to Allah Ta’ala: I have got this weakness. Give me the strength to give it up. Request the pious ones to make Dua for you. Virtue and acceptance are realized with the Duas of the pious. May Allah Ta’ala make it easy for us and all brothers and sisters to give up all bad and evil habits. [The above advice will, insha-Allah, make a Muslim,conscious of Deen, quit the habit. To the others, all the arguments by anti-smoking activists should be sufficient.] [1] Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah [2] Insha-Allah : Allah Willing (This is said when intending to do something) [3] Masha-Allah: As Allah willed (This is said when expressing appreciation or congratulation) [4] To Allah we belong and to Him is our return. (This is said when some loss occurs) [5] Alhamdulillah: All Praise is due to Allah [6] JazakAllah: May Allah reward you. (This is said when expressing gratitude to someone) [7] Durood: Seeking Allah’s Blessings on Nabi ﷺ. [8] Salaam: Salutation to Nabi ﷺ . [9] Musallies: The persons performing the Salaah. [10] Ambiyaa: Messengers of Allah Ta'ala [11] Jibra`eel: The Archangel who conveyed Divine Revelation to Rasulullah ﷺ [12] Ibaadat : Worship Source

CRITERIA TO DETERMINE THE AUTHENTICITY OF A SCHOLAR In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. a) It is important for every Muslim to ensure his source of Deenī knowledge is sound and reliable. The great Imām from the Tābi‘īn, Muhammad ibn Sīrīn (d. 110 H) – may Allah Ta‘ālā have mercy on him – said: إن هذا العلم دين فانظروا عمن تأخذون دينكم “Verily, this knowledge is religion, so be cautious of whom you take your religion from.” (Sahīh Muslim) [1] A similar statement was narrated from the Sahābī, Abū Hurayrah (radiyAllāhu ‘anhu), and the Tābi‘ī, Qatādah (rahimahullāh). [2] In general, the person from whom you take your religious knowledge should be someone who adheres to the Sunnah of Nabī (sallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) in creed and conduct, and to the path of the noble Sahābah (ridwānullāhi ta‘ālā ‘alayhim ajma‘īn). Nabī (sallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) defined the group that is on haqq (truth) from his ummah as those that hold fast to “what I and my companions are upon.” [3] The name with which this methodology has become known is: “Ahlus Sunnah wa l-Jamā‘ah” – adherents of the Sunnah and the Group, meaning, the Sahābah. The great Faqīh from the Tābi‘īn, Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘ī (d. 96 H), said, in describing the practice of the scholars of his time: كانوا إذا أتوا الرجل ليأخذوا عنه نظروا إلى سمته وإلى صلاته وإلى حاله ثم يأخذون عنه “When they would come to a man to take (religious knowledge) from him, they analysed his conduct, his Salāh and his state, and then [if these were to standard], they took from him.” [4] Furthermore, the person from whom you take religious knowledge should be of sound character and a person of piety. The great hadith scholar, Yahyā ibn Ma‘īn (d. 233 H), said: آلة الحديث الصدق والشهرة والطلب وترك البدع واجتناب الكبائر “The apparatus of hadith (and religious knowledge) is integrity, recognition (amongst the scholars), pursuit (of Deenī knowledge), abandonment of bid‘ahs and avoidance of major sins.” [5] Some of the criteria we advise you to look for in order to assess whether a particular person should be regarded as a trustworthy and accepted scholar from whom to take knowledge of Deen are the following: - He does not violate the laws of Sharī‘ah. For example, he does not attend events in which there is intermingling of sexes, he does not cut his beard short, he does not listen to music, he does not keep pictures of living things etc. - He is a graduate of a reputable and accepted institute of Shar‘ī studies. - He adheres to one of the four mazhabs of fiqh, namely, the mazhabs of Imam Abu Hanīfah, Imam Malik, Imam al-Shāfi‘ī and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. - He has sound positions in ‘Aqīdah that are in accordance with what has been established by the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah, like Imam al-Tahāwī, Imam al-Nasafī and others. - He is not a person of bid‘ah. That is, he does not hold any baseless religious beliefs, nor does he engage in any practical innovation in religion. - He is recognised and approved by the ‘ulamā’ of Ahlus Sunnah wa l-Jamā‘ah, and those ‘ulamā’ who are moderate and known for their taqwā. And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Nabeel Valli Student Darul Iftaa Lusaka, Zambia Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai. www.daruliftaa.net Askimam