<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Sep 11, 2008
SOLVING A RAMADAN BLIGHT
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Fatwa against smoking?
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I CONGRATULATE senior writer Bruce Gale on his excellent article last Friday, 'Tobacco curbs clouded in smoke'.
His article was well researched, and a welcome service to the community. It is timely, coming as it does during the current Muslim fasting month when thousands of Muslim smokers in the region are losing the chance to exercise self-discipline because of their addiction to tobacco.
Many of the youth at the Ramadan bazaar in Geylang rush to light up as soon as fasting ends for the day.
A cigarette is also the last item they consume before they start their fast at the break of dawn.
During prayers at the mosque, it is not uncommon to see many Muslims leaving the building for short cigarette breaks. Many food handlers at the Geylang bazaar brazenly smoke when the daily fast ends.
Does this impinge on the hygiene and wholesomeness of the food when they don't wash their hands?
To be sure, the bazaar's food stalls aren't exactly the epitome of cleanliness and hygiene. The temporary toilets are often bereft of adequate amenities such as soap dispensers and toilet paper.
The horrendous medical problems of tobacco consumption are well known and enough evidence has been gathered to indict smokers for causing harm to second-hand smokers, such as their spouses, children, friends and colleagues.
It is also unfortunate that, with the community's current fascination with Arab culture, water pipes or shishas are now in vogue in some shops.
Many of my fellow Muslims do not realise that, more than 100 years ago, one of the most eminent Muslim theologians thought tobacco harmful enough to issue a fatwa (religious decree) against its cultivation, sale and consumption.
Today, Muis (the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore) and leading Muslim organisations discourage smoking. Perhaps, Muis, as the national representative of the community, could invoke a fatwa against the evils of tobacco.
The move may help discourage young Muslims from lighting up. Zainuddin Mohd Ismail
SOLVING A RAMADAN BLIGHT
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Fatwa against smoking?
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I CONGRATULATE senior writer Bruce Gale on his excellent article last Friday, 'Tobacco curbs clouded in smoke'.
His article was well researched, and a welcome service to the community. It is timely, coming as it does during the current Muslim fasting month when thousands of Muslim smokers in the region are losing the chance to exercise self-discipline because of their addiction to tobacco.
Many of the youth at the Ramadan bazaar in Geylang rush to light up as soon as fasting ends for the day.
A cigarette is also the last item they consume before they start their fast at the break of dawn.
During prayers at the mosque, it is not uncommon to see many Muslims leaving the building for short cigarette breaks. Many food handlers at the Geylang bazaar brazenly smoke when the daily fast ends.
Does this impinge on the hygiene and wholesomeness of the food when they don't wash their hands?
To be sure, the bazaar's food stalls aren't exactly the epitome of cleanliness and hygiene. The temporary toilets are often bereft of adequate amenities such as soap dispensers and toilet paper.
The horrendous medical problems of tobacco consumption are well known and enough evidence has been gathered to indict smokers for causing harm to second-hand smokers, such as their spouses, children, friends and colleagues.
It is also unfortunate that, with the community's current fascination with Arab culture, water pipes or shishas are now in vogue in some shops.
Many of my fellow Muslims do not realise that, more than 100 years ago, one of the most eminent Muslim theologians thought tobacco harmful enough to issue a fatwa (religious decree) against its cultivation, sale and consumption.
Today, Muis (the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore) and leading Muslim organisations discourage smoking. Perhaps, Muis, as the national representative of the community, could invoke a fatwa against the evils of tobacco.
The move may help discourage young Muslims from lighting up. Zainuddin Mohd Ismail
