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Comments: Amien says smoking ban shocks him
March 13, Online Former Muhammadiyah chairman Amien Rais has questioned the country’s second largest Islamic group’s ban on smoking, which he says is too much
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March 13, Online
Former Muhammadiyah chairman Amien Rais has questioned the country’s
second largest Islamic group’s ban on smoking, which he says is too
much.
Amien said the Muhammadiyah edict that declares smoking haram
(forbidden under Islam) was a result of a cost-benefit analysis of
several ulemas within the Muslim organization. “I am not an expert in
religion, but the edict has shocked me.”
Your comments:
The Holy Koran also says nothing about striptease.
Djaka
Yogyakarta
Of course Amien found no mention of tobacco in the Koran — it wasn’t
introduced to the rest of the world from Central America until the late
15th century, long after compilation of the Koran.
And should Amien be surprised that an addictive drug capable of killing
qualifies as haram? Far more people die of smoking-related diseases
than of alcohol, which has long been haram.
An addictive drug that kills around 500,000 Indonesians, the majority
of them Muslims, has to be seen for what it is — a killer. No “may
cause diseases” as he is quoted, but far more definitive “causes death”.
Notwithstanding, declaring smoking haram in the absence of any
assistance or program to help people kick the addiction is cruel for
addicts and certain to create chaos. It is time now for the government
to show leadership and take responsibility in following up.
Nairdah
Jakarta
Amien is trying to split hairs! Smoking should be discouraged by any
means, and that’s what Muhammadiyah is trying to do. Calling it haram
is one such means, whether it’s in the Koran or not.
Josedinoy
Jakarta
