FT mufti dept explores fatwas on shariah-compliant tobacco alternatives

2026-03-19 - 10:51

The use of e-cigarettes and vapes was declared haram in 2015 by a special muzakarah of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs’s fatwa committee, according to a 2023 article by the department. PETALING JAYA: The federal territories mufti department (JMWP) is looking at “productive fatwas” for shariah-compliant alternatives to smoked tobacco, following a visit by Philip Morris Malaysia to its Putrajaya office on Tuesday. Code Blue cited a Facebook post by the mufti’s office – which has since been deleted – stating the tobacco company as saying that its Petaling Jaya branch focused on developing alternative products that were allegedly safer than combustion-based tobacco products. “The discussion between JMWP and the company focused on exchanging views on Islamic legal rulings regarding conventional and alternative cigarettes, as well as the role of productive fatwas in addressing public health issues and developing shariah-compliant alternatives. “This visit reflects the efforts of both parties to approach contemporary issues from a shariah perspective and to seek responsible approaches for the well-being of society. “JMWP welcomed this visit as an opportunity to build constructive dialogue between religious institutions and the corporate sector, particularly in addressing public health issues and societal welfare,” the office said on Facebook. Code Blue said the Philip Morris delegation was led by managing director Naeem Shahab Khan, based on photos of the meeting with federal territories mufti Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil. The use of e-cigarettes and vapes was declared haram in 2015 by a special muzakarah of the fatwa committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs, according to a 2023 article by the department. The 37th muzakarah of the committee in 1995 had also declared that smoking was forbidden. Several anti-tobacco advocates responded heatedly to the announcement, with Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society president Amrahi Buang calling Philip Morris’s visit “nothing more and nothing less than an attempt to mislead stakeholders”. “So much harm has already been done up to now. They have damaged the fabric of society. Tragically, this is happening during the blessed month of Ramadan,” he said. Code Blue also quoted public health activist Aiman Alias as expressing concern about the involvement of Islamic institutions in the tobacco industry, saying that any space given to tobacco companies risks being misinterpreted as moral legitimacy. “The principle of maqasid shariah, which emphasises the preservation of life, should be a priority in every consideration and action,” he said.