Is Sheesha Halal?

Assalamo Alaikum,

Smoking shisha is harmful for one’s health. According to research done by the World Health Organisation (W.H.O), the usage of shisha is more dangerous than that of cigarettes. It has also been researched that smoking shisha does not cause intoxication, however it contains tobacco flavouring and a dangerous substance known as nicotine. Just as they have presented their research on the link below:

http://www.who.int/

Due to this reason, Smoking shisha is same as smoking cigarettes. Hence whoever smokes shisha alone, then it is permissible, however it is better to avoid this, as this is a means of putting one’s health in danger.

One who goes to shisha lounges, without doubt, this is impermissible and a sinful activity as from being informed there is mixing between both genders, gathering of disbelievers and sinners, music (which is accursed) being played which is impermissible.

Live Science, a study in England published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2019, revealed that shisha produces more smoke than vape or conventional cigarettes. Because shisha is as dangerous as traditional cigarettes, it is also ruled out as haram (forbidden) in Islam.

It is neither safe nor permissible for Muslims to smoke Shisha, as it is also forbidden for us to do or use things that are harmful to ourselves. This is as stated by Allah SWT in the verses of the Al-Quran: (Al Baqarah: 195), (Al Maidah: 4), and (Al A’raf: 157).

Sheesha is similar to smoking so the ruling of smoking would apply. Some scholars have said smoking is haram and others have said its makruh.

Assalamo Alaikum

Answered by Shaykh Rahil Mumtaz