Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I used to smoke, but i was forced to touch the quran by my aunty and say that i will never smoke again, i didn`t have any choice. However i am finding it very hard. i would like to know weather it was wrong that i was forced? and could i still smoke?

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Breaking oath vow smoking

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Needless to say sister, smoking is an evil and repulsive habit and extremely injurious to one’s and other’s health.  The scholars and jurists in Islam are absolutely unanimous in their opinion that smoking cigarettes is much closer to the ‘haraam’ (unlawful) than the ‘halaal’ (lawful). 

 

Your Statement: ….but i was forced to touch the quran by my aunty and say that i will never smoke again, i didn`t have any choice.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 89:

89      Allah will not call you to account for what is futile in your oaths, but He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: for expiation feed ten indigent persons on a scale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them; or give a slave his freedom.  If that is beyond your means, fast for three days.  That is the expiation for the oaths ye have sworn.  But keep to your oaths.  Thus doth Allah make clear to you His Signs that ye may be grateful.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Bani Israel Verse 34 (part):

…fulfill the promise; surely (every) promise shall be questioned about.

 

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3267  Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘A vow is binding in those things by which the Pleasure of Allah is sought.’

 

Respected sister, if you have taken the oath in the Blessed Name of Allah to quit your evil habit of smoking, indeed that oath is binding upon you and it must be fulfilled….if indeed you fear Allah and the Last Day.

 

Your Question: ….i would like to know weather it was wrong that i was forced?

Respected sister, your aunt obviously did not put a gun to your head nor threatened to take your life for you to take the oath!  The one that man has absolute control of is one’s tongue; and if you took the oath in the Blessed Name of Allah to quit smoking at the behest of your loved one, and there was no threat made to your or your loved one’s life, that oath is binding upon you.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan