Ulema bans Muslims from smoking in certain conditions

Padangpanjang, NU Online
The Indonesian Ulema (Islamic scholars) Council (MUI) issued an edict in a meeting here on Sunday banning Muslims from smoking in certain conditions.

"MUI has issued an edict which states that smoking is forbidden for children, pregnant women, MUI members and for those in public places," Amin Suma, chairman of the Edict Commission of the MUI said here on Sunday.<>

He said that MUI decided in the meeting that smoking for Muslims is between `haram` (forbidden) and `makruh` (objectionable).

Suma said that MUI would formulate later the form of sanctions against MUI members who smoke.

He said that the MUI meeting agreed to two rulings, namely one that bans smoking for children, pregnant women, those in public places and MUI members and the other one that states that smoking was between `haram` and `makhruh.`

According to Suma, the adoption of the edict was based on the emergence of differences of opinions on whether smoking for Muslims was allowed or forbidden.

He said that the decision taken by MUI should not be used by members of public to take actions against smokers.

"It is the government who has the right to take actions against smokers," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

He said that a legal framework was therefore needed to implement the MUI edict on smoking which places smokers between `haram` and `makruh`

Nurhayati Hakim, an advisor to MUI for West Sumatra, said the MUI decision on smoking was enough to serve as a guidance for Muslims with regard to smoking.

"At least, the MUI edict will provide restrictions so that the public would not be free to smoke at will," she said.

On Sunday, the MUI also issued an edict banning Muslims from practicing true yoga, namely meditation which contains genuine ritual and spirituality of other religion.

"The edict is issued to provide guidance for Muslims so that they would not mix the wrong and the right all together," MUI chairman Ma`ruf Amin said. (dar)