Is it alright to eat crabs and use salt from the dead sea. Why is smoking allowed in islam when it is harmful for health.

1. Kindly refer below - our standard reply to a similar query 2. smoking - use our search feature on this site for 'smoking'.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.

Q: A Beauty product on the market is made from extracts of the Dead Sea, where the nation of Lut (Alayhis salaam) was destroyed. Is it permissible to use this product and can a physician prescribe such a product? A: Since Allah Ta'ala's punishment descended on that place and when Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) was returning from Tabuk, he ordered the Sahaaba (Radhiallaahu Ánhum) to throw away even the bread dough that contained the water of the Dead sea. However, if there is no adequate alternative of the product that contains extracts from the Dead Sea, and the product is prescribed by a physician (preferably specialist physician), then it will be permissible to use the product.
It is not permissible for a physician to prescribe medication containing Haraam ingredients if there is an adequate alternative. In the case of a non-Muslim physician, the Muslim patient should inform the physician of his religious requirements and request him to take cognisance of that.