The blessed month of Ramadan comes bearing a practical educational message that encourages one towards greater piety, refinement and change for the better. It is a valuable opportunity to quit bad habits, organize one's life and free it from anarchy, monotony and indolence.
It is also a practical test that teaches the Muslim how he can refine his conduct and ideas and rethink some of his habits, practices and customs. It also strengthens the individual will and the idea of knowing that Allah The Almighty is always watching all your deeds.
Smoking is of one of the matters that is not only rejected by the honorable religion but by the sound mind as well. Smoking has innumerable harmful effects to the health, soul and wealth.
Scientific research has established that there is a close relationship between smoking and lung cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, coronary diseases, angina pectoris, cancer of the mouth, pharynx and larynx, and many other diseases.
Statistics state that millions of people in the world die because of smoking every year and between the age of thirty four and sixty five.
Even the fetuses in the wombs of their mothers are not saved from the harms of smoking.
How can one quit smoking?
You can take the following steps:
1- Make a firm decision that you want to give up smoking for this is as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination.} [Quran 3: 186]
2- Set a specific time limit to give up smoking. Let it be as soon as possible. Do not allow yourself to postpone the process so that it may not affect your personality and decisions negatively.
3- Seek the help of Allah The Almighty and supplicate to Him sincerely to give you the strength and success to achieve that. Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him narrated that the Prophet, , said: “And if you seek help, then seek the help of Allah.” [At-Tirmithi, Al-Albaani-authentic]
4- Always keep in mind the harms and evil consequences of smoking. Remember that Allah The Almighty will ask you about your health, lifetime and wealth.
5- Try to find a companion who smokes (a relative, friend or a colleague) so that you both agree that you will both give up smoking as this will be more beneficial and increase your determination to stop smoking. Indeed, one is only strong when he is among his peers, not on his own. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.} [Quran 5: 2] And in a narration by Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, , said: “The one who guides others to goodness will have a reward like that of the one who does it.” [Muslim]
6- Beware of your friends who want to discourage and distract you from giving up smoking, and remember the Hadeeth (narration) in which Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, said: “A man will follow the religion of his close friend, so each one should consider whom he befriends.”[Ahmad]
7- Tell your wife, family members and those you trust about your decision, since they will be an important source of support for you, Allah willing.
8- Decide that you will take the amount of money that you used to spend on smoking to spend in charity on the poor and orphans on a daily basis, for Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. } [Quran 73: 20]
9- Make the best use of fasting to strengthen your decision. Be closer to Allah The Almighty and know that He is always watching, for Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {There is in no private conversation three but that He is the fourth of them, nor are there five but that He is the sixth of them - and no less than that and no more except that He is with them [in knowledge] wherever they are. Then He will inform them of what they did, on the Day of Resurrection. } [Quran 58: 7]