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Smoking
Has No Place in Islam
Over 1,500 Pakistani children are taking up smoking every day
Health professionals
at a seminar organised by Aga Khan University (AKU) in Karachi on
October 12 urged the public to give up tobacco once and for all.
They also called upon religious scholars in Pakistan to help control
this hazardous habit, pointing out that Ramazan is an opportune
time to inform the public that tobacco use is unacceptable in Islam.
The seminar was held in line with National Quit Smoking Day, which
will be observed in Pakistan on the 1st of Ramazan.
Speaking on
the occasion, Dr Muhammad Irfan, Consultant Pulmonologist at Aga
Khan University Hospital (AKUH), said that smoking has no place
in Islam. "Various scholars from all over the Muslim world have
issued a fatwa that tobacco use is strictly forbidden (haram) in
Islam," he disclosed. Scientific research, he added, has clearly
proven that tobacco is not only a powerful addictive substance but
also causes serious harm to the human body and is therefore unacceptable
on Islamic grounds. Quoting from the Holy Quran, Dr Irfan said that
human life is a gift of God and we have no right to destroy it by
using harmful substances such as tobacco.
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Professor
Javaid A. Khan, Consultant Chest Physician at AKUH, speaking
on the ill-effects of smoking at a seminar held at Aga Khan
University, Karachi on October 12, 2004. |
Professor Javaid
A. Khan, Consultant Chest Physician at AKUH, said that research
conducted by the University in 2003 showed that 40% of men and 8%
of women smoke on a regular basis in Pakistan. He regretted that
tobacco companies in the country had been given a free hand to promote
an addictive substance. "As a result of aggressive marketing, an
estimated 1,500 Pakistani children are taking up smoking every day,"
he revealed.
"Tobacco use
in the form of gutka and pan masala is also on the rise in the country,
resulting in a higher incidence of head, neck and mouth cancer,"
explained Dr Suleman Haque, Assistant Professor and Pulmonologist
at AKUH. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths among
Pakistani males and over 90% of such cases can be prevented simply
by avoiding tobacco, he added.
Dr Naeem Siddiqui,
Consultant Psychiatrist at AKUH, said it was a misconception that
smoking helps relieve stress. "In fact, research indicates that
tobacco use actually increases the level of stress and anxiety,
which in turn demands more and more nicotine."
Highlighting
the effects of smoking on the lungs, Dr Fayyaz Hussain, Chest Specialist
at AKUH, said that over 90% of chronic obstructive lung disease
cases are caused by smoking. "This respiratory disease is on the
rise in the country and treatment of this disabling condition is
very difficult," he warned. Most patients with this condition eventually
end up with respiratory failure if they don't stop smoking, he explained.
Mehrunissa Kabani
of the Hospital's Nursing Services Division shared the experiences
of some lifelong smokers who eventually gave up smoking and are
now leading a healthy life. During the seminar, smokers were also
provided practical tips on how to quit this deadly habit.
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