Smoking Ban doesn’t Affect Muslims

Indonesia is the world fifth-largest tobacco store, that’s why Indonesia’s top Islamic body decided not to ban smoking for Muslims. 

In general Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population and about 700 people, including Muslim clerics and theological experts, had gathered in West Sumatra for the National Edict Commission meeting, which could have issued fatwa on a range of areas from polygamy to doing yoga.

The discussion over smoking revealed a split between those who want to make it "haram", or not allowed, and others who favored "makruh", an Arabic term whereby it would only be advised that smoking is bad.

At the end of the meeting the council decided to forbade only smoking in public places or smoking by children and pregnant women.

The economy income in Indonesia depends of the Tobacco Industry. That’s why religious councils from Indonesia had argued against smoking ban.

Some clerics also argued that there was no Islamic doctrine that bans smoking.

At around $1 a pack, cigarettes in Indonesia are among the cheapest in the world. Some cities, including Jakarta, have banned smoking in public places, but the rules are widely defied.

Jusuf Kalla, Indonesia Vice President, who opened the meeting on Saturday, argued that if the smokers’ right will be cut then the world will not become better but vice versa will start a war between smokers and non-smokers.