Question
Assalaamu ‘alaykum mufti saahib. Is the act of vaping haraam? If so, what is the best way to quit for a person who has become addicted to such things? Jazākallah.
Answer
Vaping, also known as e-cigarettes, are considered a ‘safer’ alternative to the conventional smoking of tobacco cigarettes. Even so, it is important to note that this does not mean they are free of any harm. E-cigarettes are known to contain nicotine as well as other toxic chemicals. Although, the level of harm is low in comparison to cigarettes, many health organisations have confirmed that vaping is not risk-free.
The UK government’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) states on their website: ‘Vaping is not risk free but is far less harmful than smoking. Our advice remains that people who smoke are better to switch completely to vaping but if you have never been a smoker, don’t start to vape.’
Since e-cigarettes have not been around for very long, their long-term harmful effects are not fully known. Furthermore, nicotine addiction may lead to a habit of smoking cigarettes.
In light of the above and applying the Islamic legal maxim ‘there should be no harm to oneself nor to others’, vaping or e-cigarettes are prohibitively disliked. For a person who is using e-cigarettes as a means to quit smoking, they should consult a mufti for Islamic guidance in their situation.
And Allah knows.
8 things to know about e-cigarettes – UK Health Security Agency (blog.gov.uk) [Accessed on 23/9/21]
Is vaping harmful? | Cancer Research UK [Accessed on 23/9/21]
The chemistry and toxicology of vaping – ScienceDirect [Accessed 23/9/21]
الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (6/ 459) (قَوْلُهُ وَالتُّتْن إلَخْ) أَقُولُ: قَدْ اضْطَرَبَتْ آرَاءُ الْعُلَمَاءِ فِيهِ، فَبَعْضُهُمْ قَالَ بِكَرَاهَتِهِ، وَبَعْضُهُمْ قَالَ بِحُرْمَتِهِ، وَبَعْضُهُمْ بِإِبَاحَتِهِ، وَأَفْرَدُوهُ بِالتَّأْلِيفِ. وَفِي شَرْحِ الْوَهْبَانِيَّةِ لِلشُّرُنْبُلَالِيِّ: وَيُمْنَعُ مِنْ بَيْعِ الدُّخَانِ وَشُرْبِهِ وَشَارِبُهُ فِي الصَّوْمِ لَا شَكَّ يُفْطِرُ وَفِي شَرْحِ الْعَلَّامَةِ الشَّيْخِ إسْمَاعِيلَ النَّابْلُسِيِّ وَالِدِ سَيِّدِنَا عَبْدِ الْغَنِيِّ عَلَى شَرْحِ الدُّرَرِ بَعْدَ نَقْلِهِ أَنَّ لِلزَّوْجِ مَنْعَ الزَّوْجَةِ مِنْ أَكْلِ الثُّومِ وَالْبَصَلِ وَكُلِّ مَا يُنْتِنُ الْفَمَ. قَالَ: وَمُقْتَضَاهُ الْمَنْعُ مِنْ شُرْبِهَا التُّتْن لِأَنَّهُ يُنْتِنُ الْفَمَ خُصُوصًا إذَا كَانَ الزَّوْجُ لَا يَشْرَبُهُ أَعَاذَنَا اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مِنْهُ. وَقَدْ أَفْتَى بِالْمَنْعِ مِنْ شُرْبِهِ شَيْخُ مَشَايِخِنَا الْمُسَيَّرَيْ وَغَيْرُهُ اهـ. وَلِلْعَلَّامَةِ الشَّيْخِ عَلِيٍّ الْأُجْهُورِيِّ الْمَالِكِيِّ رِسَالَةٌ فِي حِلِّهِ نَقَلَ فِيهَا أَنَّهُ أَفْتَى بِحِلِّهِ مَنْ يُعْتَمَدُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَئِمَّةِ الْمَذَاهِبِ الْأَرْبَعَةِ
الأشباه والنظائر (ص: 85) لَا ضَرَرَ وَلَا ضِرَارَ
Answered by:
Bint Saeed
Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel