Why is it okay for muslims to smoke and not comsume alcohol?

Question

I have a friend whos a muslim..he smokes but doesn't drink because its against his religion...Both are bad for health reasons.

Answer 1

Peace to u.
Many ppl don't know or they don't want to know, but "anything which causes harm to a human body is forbidden (Haram) on a Muslim". alcohol has been clearly forbidden, so ppl refrain from it. but, since smoking wasn't in the tradition of Arab in those times ("Advent of Islam in Arab" time), and it became popular of late, thus there is No clear fatwa (decision) to ban/prohibit smoking, and so Muslims still smoke, as a reason that they haven't been told to refrain from it. But it is clearly stated in The Holy Quran as i said above, "that anything that causes harm to the human-body, is Haram (prohibited) for a Muslim." (well, Not the exact translation, of course). But, if Muslims do smoke, then it is coz they don't want to see the prohibition in The Holy Quran, and they will justify it through any means, and they forget to see that indeed smoking is an addiction (though it can be stopped, but with great self-restraint), and causes harm to human-body. So, smoking and consuming alcohol, are both forbidden in Islam, as they are bad for health reason, as u said. Peace to All.

to *newcatholic* guy, alcohol became prohibited step-wise, so as to ease ppl into leaving it, as ALLAH (GOD) and HIS Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) Never intended to burden anything on the newly converted Muslim. it is a fact even today, that a person can't leave alcohol suddenly, it is a step-wise process for an 'alcoholic' to leave drinking. americans do it today the same way, as alcoholics go to AAA meetings, and do it step-wise, no one can do it in a day. so why u blame Islam, when it banned it step-wise and Not abruptly?

Answer 2

Tobacco grew only in North America until the 1600s when it was imported to Europe and eventually to Asia. So at the time the Koran (and the Bible) were written, smoking was unknown. So it is not mentioned in either book. The Bible, however, has rules against doing harmful things to your body that most Christians had extended to include smoking. Many Muslims also object to smoking for the same reason. But neither religion can point to a specific scripture that says "Thou shalt not smoke."

Answer 3

first smoking -- although cigarettes and its smoke contains 40 different carcinogens esp Nicotine -- it has no intoxication. second the smoking custom started just resecntly a few hundred years back. there was no tobacco or anything during the times of Muhammed-pbuh. so smoking may cause conditions like lung emphysema or cancer but not intoxication.

but if he is indulging in marijuana , hasish, opium, or anything of such stuff -- then he is a fake muslim -- for a muslim will not take intoxicating drugs.

drinking -- as soon as the person starts to consume alcohol -- acetylcholine -- a neurotransmitter (helps in transmitting signals between neurons of ur brain) will accumualte at the post-synaptic junction. due to over accumulation -- it starts to block the signals from one part to another. the CENTER OF THINKING in Brain lies at the Cerebellum and thus the first action that is impaired is -- reasoning and behaviour followed by gait (walk).

Answer 4

I appreciate your question. But I think your question has a wrong info. It isn't okay for Muslims to smoke. Some people above said that in the time of the rpophet smoking wasn't invented thats why it is ok. To them, Islam isn't such a religion of extreme narrowness. Islam is far broad. Smoking did not exist in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) but our great religion of Islam has laid down general principles from which many laws are derived. From these principles, Muslim scholars have come to the conclusion that smoking is prohibited.

Please visit the link:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503543740

Answer 5

smoking is also a sin but unfortunately people only follow what's literally written.
the difference between Alcohol and smoke is that Alcohol makes you drunk which may lead to cause harm for someone else besides yourself. that's why it's mentioned as forbidden.
Allah said consuming any thing that harms the body and the brain is indeed a sin and we will have to stand before him and we will be held accountable for our abuse of our own health.

Answer 6

actually you're incorrect. All intoxicants are forbidden in islam. Alcohol is specifically mentioned but tobacco falls under the category of "toxins consumed" which cause long term effects instead of immediate. therefore tobacco, narcotics, etc. fall under the same category of "forbidden" but not specifically mentioned. our body doesn't belong to us. it's borrowed property that must be returned in the best condition possible..with the understanding of "wear and tear" ie..aging. so whatever we can control then that is what we will be held accountable for. we can't cause intentional damage to our bodies. besides toxins are a slow form of "suicide" since many of them have the same side effect which are diseases that can lead to "death". so that's why the non-specified toxins fall under "forbidden".

Answer 7

the thing is that alcohol makes you drunk, losing control of your body's normal function. While smoking, though is bad for your health as well wont do that.
Now if he smokes marihuana, then I dont know what to say.

Answer 8

Because the effects of alcohol are immediate and obvious. We didn't know about smoking being bad for you until last century. When they wrote the Koran, they didn't know tobacco made you sick but they knew that alcohol got you drunk.

Answer 9

Both are not OK but alcohol is worse and more forbidden because its harm extends to many aspects and other people..

Answer 10

Because alcohol addles the mind.