[9V42h1eT]

I just want to know if it is or not because many Muslims that I know do shisha and they justify it by saying that it's the safe alternative to drugs or smoking or what not. However, I've heard that it's worse than cigarettes.

Thanks.

[Pharmaciest2007]

slmzs wat is shisha

[Paiblyelaxy]

slmzs wat is shisha

Shisha = Nargile = Hookah = "water pipe"

[Feflyinvelf]

I just want to know if it is or not because many Muslims that I know do shisha and they justify it by saying that it's the safe alternative to drugs or smoking or what not. However, I've heard that it's worse than cigarettes.

Thanks.

I believe it is haram, though you are correct that many Muslims do it. The fallacy in their logic is that just because something is less harmful, doesn't mean that it is right. It is non-addictive, and does not have the tar and other additives that cigarettes do. It does have quite a few times more carcinogens (cancer causing agents) that can lead to brain cancer. Basically smoking hookah/sheasha is choosing chancing brain cancer instead of lung cancer.

[emuffette]

The reason most people seem to think shisha is alright is two-fold:

1. They think tobacco is halal to smoke or they don't realize that it is haram simply because LITERALLY everyone in the Arab world and other Muslim countries does it. Indonesia is the worst. You see babies smoking in some of the villages there
2. They think the manner of the smoking (ie through a water pipe) makes it safe

Both are wrong. Shisha is actually far worse than cigarettes simply because the amount of smoke one takes into their lungs is drastically higher with shisha. The smoke might be cooler, but that doesn't make it any bit safer.

[indianstory]

1. waste time
2. waste money
3. harmful to self and others (passive)
4. intoxicant.

Seems to me shisha just like cigarette has a lot of negative points. So you decide.

Won't argue with the other points, but as for point 4. then I doubt it. I used to smoke shisha as a new Muslim (as I was with the HT boys and was told smoking was Mubah - especially Shisha) and even my friends who were non-smokers, would not become dizzy or intoxicated when they tried it. "Virgin" smokers will get dizzy/ill when smoking cigarettes, but that doesn't seem to be the case (from what I've seen) with Shisha.

But yes, it's harmful and a waste of money etc.

[krek-sikUp]

Won't argue with the other points, but as for point 4. then I doubt it. I used to smoke shisha as a new Muslim (as I was with the HT boys and was told smoking was Mubah - especially Shisha) and even my friends who were non-smokers, would not become dizzy or intoxicated when they tried it. "Virgin" smokers will get dizzy/ill when smoking cigarettes, but that doesn't seem to be the case (from what I've seen) with Shisha.

But yes, it's harmful and a waste of money etc.

It depends on the shisha. A lot of the shisha varieties you find within the West have little to no nicotine in them, but in places like Egypt the shisha is very, very strong tobacco that will have your head swimming after a few good puffs. However, even shisha with almost no nicotine in them (these tend to be the fruitier, better tasting ones) are still horrible for your lungs, because it's the smoke itself which creates problems for your lungs, not the nicotine.

[Matajic]

It depends on the shisha. A lot of the shisha varieties you find within the West have little to no nicotine in them, but in places like Egypt the shisha is very, very strong tobacco that will have your head swimming after a few good puffs. However, even shisha with almost no nicotine in them (these tend to be the fruitier, better tasting ones) are still horrible for your lungs, because it's the smoke itself which creates problems for your lungs, not the nicotine.

Thanks for this info! The shisha tobacco most people smoke here is the "Apple flavour" one and similar "nice smelling" fruity ones.

[goctorsurger]

some alarming news..

JEDDAH: With a vast collection of flavors to choose from, smoking shisha has become a trend among youngsters. Cafes, restaurants and coffee shops are swamped with people who have shisha pipes by their tables and are happily smoking it.
For Ahmed Saleh Omer, 27, smoking shisha is the perfect way to unwind in the evening. “After a long day, I go to a shisha lounge. It calms and relaxes me. Just like others need a cigarette to keep going, I enjoy doing shisha. It has now become a daily routine.”
Noura Nawaf, a graduate student, said: “I have no reason for smoking shisha. It’s something I just like to do.”

According to research carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO), the volume of smoke inhaled in an hour-long shisha session is estimated to be the equivalent of smoking between 100 and 200 cigarettes and causes several health problems.

Contd..

[rfceicizgm]

debate goes on for ever, why does the research only come now in the past 5 years or so. why didnt it come out in the 70s with conventional smoking. there are now also nicotene free steam stones that have no tabacco in them. they look like gravel that soaked in honey.
I think its correct in saying that the volume taken in, in an hour session is greater than 100 cigarettes. but I disagree to believe that its half as bad as 50 cigarettes. for example if you go into a closed room for 1 hour with a hookah or even two pipes with guys smoking strongly. 2 pipes puffing & blowing out clouds of smoke even a non smoker wont be bothered. but lets go into the same room with one guy smoking on a cigarette & see if the non smoker can sit in that room for the hour.

then again noboday smokes for an hour, the pipe only burns for about 30 min.

[Allbrunette]

debate goes on for ever, why does the research only come now in the past 5 years or so. why didnt it come out in the 70s with conventional smoking. there are now also nicotene free steam stones that have no tabacco in them. they look like gravel that soaked in honey.
I think its correct in saying that the volume taken in, in an hour session is greater than 100 cigarettes. but I disagree to believe that its half as bad as 50 cigarettes. for example if you go into a closed room for 1 hour with a hookah or even two pipes with guys smoking strongly. 2 pipes puffing & blowing out clouds of smoke even a non smoker wont be bothered. but lets go into the same room with one guy smoking on a cigarette & see if the non smoker can sit in that room for the hour.

then again noboday smokes for an hour, the pipe only burns for about 30 min.

research on the harms of nicotine has been on since quite a long time..from dislipidemia to coronary risk there have been numerous studies done. regardless one smokes a cigarratte.. cigar or shisha.. the nicotine intake only varies..

well passive smoking is twice as bad.. be it from a shisha or a cigaratte..

wa assalam..

[Aaron757]

The reason most people seem to think shisha is alright is two-fold:

1. They think tobacco is halal to smoke or they don't realize that it is haram simply because LITERALLY everyone in the Arab world and other Muslim countries does it. Indonesia is the worst. You see babies smoking in some of the villages there
2. They think the manner of the smoking (ie through a water pipe) makes it safe

Both are wrong. Shisha is actually far worse than cigarettes simply because the amount of smoke one takes into their lungs is drastically higher with shisha. The smoke might be cooler, but that doesn't make it any bit safer.

Many Muslims differentiate tobacco from other forms of addictions saying it has no influence on your judgement ( intoxicant ) .
We ignore the long term indirect bad effect.
You don't have any problem convincing someone things like hashish or narcotic pills are haram , because the effects are apparent .

I have come across views like these from friends ...' its a harmless vanity ... you can enjoy a smoke now and then ... too much of it is bad for you though. '
Same logic used for having too much chocolate .... different poisons for different people.

Here is some facts on khat leaves which has the same problem

Is Yemen Chewing Itself to Death?

Of course I don't think we have the authority to say Tobacco is haram altogether . Because that is telling people they are outside the boundaries of sharia .

[maxsobq]

research on the harms of nicotine has been on since quite a long time..from dislipidemia to coronary risk there have been numerous studies done. regardless one smokes a cigarratte.. cigar or shisha.. the nicotine intake only varies..

well passive smoking is twice as bad.. be it from a shisha or a cigaratte..

wa assalam..

& nicotene free smoking?

[RerRibreLok]

& nicotene free smoking?

do u mean without tobacco altogather..?

[cxddfrxc]

the people who i know that smoke sheesha say they dont even take the smoke into their lungs. they just puff it into their mouths and then blow it out.

[bellson]

I just want to know if it is or not because many Muslims that I know do shisha and they justify it by saying that it's the safe alternative to drugs or smoking or what not. However, I've heard that it's worse than cigarettes.

Thanks.

At the worst, shisha was 400 to 450 times more dangerous than having a cigarette
Dr Hilary Wareing
Tobacco Control Collaboration Centre

Yep haram. Islam won't halal something which is bad for health.

[Pedsshuth]

do u mean without tobacco altogather..?

yip they called steam stones. its stones dipped in honey & flavour

[q9h9pPne]

yip they called steam stones. its stones dipped in honey & flavour

when no Tobacco.. then no worries from our side.. except of course like in Iran they smoke sheesha with hashish.. just like a social drink among the elites..

[exchpaypaleg]

Many Muslims differentiate tobacco from other forms of addictions saying it has no influence on your judgement ( intoxicant ) .

This is very wishful thinking. Take a smoker's cigarettes away for a couple of hours (even a few minutes for some) and see what kind of effect it has on their judgement (i.e. when they punch you in your face, or worse. I'd call that poor judgement, wouldn't you?). Irritability, anger, agitation, annoyance, impatience, madness, etc (fill in all the relevant words you can think of)... that's what happens when a smoker doesn't get their 'dose' of nicotine. They literally start acting crazy and don't cool down until they light up again. If that is not tobacco addiction having influence on one's judgement, then I don't know what is!

Also brother Zahed I am not saying the above to you specifically because you didn't say what you said in a defensive context, I'm just saying it in general.

the people who i know that smoke sheesha say they dont even take the smoke into their lungs. they just puff it into their mouths and then blow it out.

That is also very wishful thinking. With cigarette smoke, one has to make effort to take the smoke into their lungs. With shisha, the smoke is so much and so thick that one 'normal' puff fills a person's lungs and the entire airway all the way up to nose & mouth. Furthermore, if for the sake of argument, they really were only taking very small puffs without taking it into their lungs: 1. it still goes down into them even if they don't make effort, and 2. even if it stays in their mouth, that still leaves the dangerous door open for mouth cancer and a plethora of other diseases.

May Allah protect us all. Ameen.

[Nptxsews]

Also brother Zahed I am not saying the above to you specifically because you didn't say what you said in a defensive context, I'm just saying it in general.





May Allah protect us all. Ameen.

Thanks brother , no problem . I do smoke cigars from time to time but never picked up the habit. I guess that is what all possible addicts tell themselves.

I do understand how much of a destruction tobacco brings on the mind and body from habitual use .

But still must differ on common sense grounds that we should not go around telling people its Haram ...

Firstly we do not have the authority to do that , secondly by the same logic a lot of other things fall in the category of doing harm to mind and body with excessive use , like I mentioned in my original post ... chocolate has theobromine , Caffeine in Coffee and tea . Khat is used in parts of Middle east frequently ... and so forth . All of these are addictive and harmful when consumed excessively.

We are talking about opening up a whole new debate on food habits from the perspective of shariah.
We don't have any right to say whats haram or not as laymen anyway.