Practical Advice on quitting smoking
Question
Someone who smokes about 4 cigarettes a day wants to quit smoking very badly but she lacks will power. she’s a very Deen inclined person and wants to leave it to please her Creator. what advice is there besides the clear Quran text and Ahadith which she already knows.
Answer
The main ingredient in kicking any addiction is WILLPOWER. It is difficult and it is a struggle, but it is a struggle that can be overcome. In her situation, she should gradually wean herself off smoking. Work on extending the hours between smoking until she can manage with 3 cigarettes, then two, then one. Thereafter working on extending days. Each step is a milestone and a victory which she should celebrate. This will give her extra motivation and make her feel good about quitting. Even if it takes time to do, it’s fine. The main thing is that we must move forward and not backward.
Nicotine patches and gum will help. As the body gets accustomed to doing without nicotine, the cravings will subside. With patience and perseverance, she will be able to quit completely.
Added note: Being around people who smoke will make it harder to quit. Being around who don’t smoke and who encourage you to give it up will make it easier.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
- Answered by
- Mufti Moosa Salie
- Checked by
- Mufti Ismaeel Bassa
Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Jamiatul Ulama KZN. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, ask the issuing Darul Ifta directly.