by Sameh Strauch http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=362 Smoking was discovered by the Spanish conquistadors in America, about 500 years ago; from Spain, it spread to the rest of Europe, and also to the Muslim world about 100 years later. Unfortunately, while the West has long realized the dangers of smoking and attempted to reduce it, in the Muslim lands, it has spread with little or no interference. Early Muslim scholars, confronted with this obnoxious habit, declared it to be makrooh (detested), comparing it with such things as garlic and onions. This was due to the fact that, at that time, none was aware of the harmful effects produced by smoking, which include, cancer, heart disease, strokes, miscarriages and premature birth in women and several other diseases. Since it has become clear that smoking is harmful, it is obligatory upon all Muslims to abstain from it, for Allaah has said: { And do not kill yourselves, Allaah is indeed Merciful to you } (Soorah 4:29), And the Prophet...
