lecture one-Smoking

During the first lecture, we talked about the arguments against smoking and the arguements for the freedom to smoke. Firstly, we looked at the statistics, frequently used on television and in classrooms, about the health hazards of smoking. We then went onto looking at the two arguments about smoking and some of the groups set up in the U.K, which campaign either for or against smoking. We then looked at smoking in the media and in entertainment, eg films, television etc. From the presentation I realised just how influencial smoking is to people's lives, especially in the media...and how smoking is used in films etc to reinforce a stereotype. Learning this I have realised just how influential and contraversial smoking is. Therefore, the smoking debate will undoubtedly go on for years to come, but whether it will ever be resolved is questionable.

This is a site dedicated to helping smokers quit:

http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/

Islamic perspective:

As a muslim I feel it is important to include the islamic perspective on each of the topics. Obviously, we are studying 'bad' behaviour by the standard of the non-muslim society we live in. However, I will also be including the islamic ruling and perspective of some of the topics, if nothing else, simply as an alternative and personal view, for myself, that hopefully fellow students will find interesting as an opinion from a different cultural and religious perspective (Insha'Allah).

In the Khanafi madhab (school of thought), which I personally belong to, the general consensus on smoking is that it falls under the legal category on Mukruh Tahrimi (highest level of mukruh/disliked act) ie should be avoided at all costs. Earlier scholars, however, have said that because there was no proof for the direct health issues of smoking, it was mubah (permissable, not disliked or advised, ie neutral). However, with the increase of scientific reasearch and proof on the adverse effects of smoking and tabocco on one's health, modern day ulama (scholars/theologians) have decided on a much more serious legal ruling. When an act is said to be Mukruh Tahrimi, although not acknowlegded as expicitly Haraam (forbidden, as quoted in the Qur'an and Sunnah (example of the final messenger of Islam; Mohammed (saw)) it is still seen as an act which can be sinful if commited purposely ie intentionally and repeatedly.

The link below is for a sunni (largest muslim sect) website which answers some questions on islamic rulings on various topics:

http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=676&CATE=115