How should i approach.....?

[palestine]

:salam2: i need all of your inputs brothers and sisters. The masjid we go to has a gas station next to it, the gas station is owned by arab muslims...but in the store, things such as cigaretts are sold in it. i want to inform them how it is haram and how they should not sell those things so that Allah will be pleased with them and so that their business will be successful if they do stop selling that stuff. i want to inform them in an appropriate way which will not offend them nor make them angry. i was about to enter their gas station and say that but however, something my sisters said discouraged me and i hadn't entered the store and said what i wanted to say. i just want to let them know that as muslims we should care for one another and want good for each other. i want the muslims to see their wrong actions and repent to Allah, i want them to be able to run to the masjid and pray in it and to stop selling things that harm others. my question is how shall i do that? i need courage to do it, and i believe i can do it, but i just want to know if i'm being silly and stupid about this whole thing, because as i said i was discouraged because i was laughed at but i still want to continue and inshaAllah tomorrow is another opportunity. JazakaAllah to all who do help me through this. :salam2:

 

[Faisal_01]

:salam2:

Just let it go. If they are Muslims I'm sure they know what they are doing, and so they have a reason for what they are doing. If it really bothers you, then if I were you I'd just bring it up casually in a conversation with them when I'm buying something from their store. Don't just march in there and start lecturing them, it'll make you seem rude and chances are your message won't get through to them.

 

[Al-Kashmiri]

If you can advise them and benefit then do advise them. However if it causes more harm, then your advice is profitless (the scholars will often say this in explanation of the hadeeth in brother Faisal's sig). My suggestion is that you fear Allaah and adorn yourself with Islamic etiquettes. Sadly many people make excuses for haraam transactions these days, because they care more about increasing their wealth than increasing their good deeds.

 

[palestine]

true but......

:salam2:

Just let it go. If they are Muslims I'm sure they know what they are doing, and so they have a reason for what they are doing. If it really bothers you, then if I were you I'd just bring it up casually in a conversation with them when I'm buying something from their store. Don't just march in there and start lecturing them, it'll make you seem rude and chances are your message won't get through to them.

ws, well of course i wont just march in there and say things rudely, by the way as muslims even if we already know what is right or wrong should we not advice each other and remind one another of Allah brother? i mean shouldn't we be telling each other what good and what is right even though most of us know that?

 

[palestine]

sad

If you can advise them and benefit then do advise them. However if it causes more harm, then your advice is profitless (the scholars will often say this in explanation of the hadeeth in brother Faisal's sig). My suggestion is that you fear Allaah and adorn yourself with Islamic etiquettes. Sadly many people make excuses for haraam transactions these days, because they care more about increasing their wealth than increasing their good deeds.

ws, yes that's the reality of muslims now adays. it's sad and it hurts me deeply. i wish they would see how foolish they're being. i wish they would, but unfortunately most of them don't.

 

[Faisal_01]

ws, well of course i wont just march in there and say things rudely, by the way as muslims even if we already know what is right or wrong should we not advice each other and remind one another of Allah brother? i mean shouldn't we be telling each other what good and what is right even though most of us know that?

Yeah we should advice them but I wasn't saying you shouldn't do it. I was speaking from what I know about people in general. From your intial post I thought you were just going to go in there JUST to advice them. No one really likes a stranger to come in through the building and start telling them whats right and what is wrong. Instead, as I suggested before, bring it up in a casual conversation. It'll be more effective that way. However, you also have to realize that it's their business and they are doing it for the money, and so thats why I also suggest letting it go. Just giving you two options.

 

[dna1987]

I knew a Muslim shop last year that sold haram pies. The owners knew I was Muslim so I thought one day I would go in there and try to buy a haram pie and see if they would stop me or not (I'm pretty sure they'd say "noo it's not halal!" in which case I could ask them "Huh? But you're selling it, I thought it would be OK"). I never did that though - just thought about doing it.
Salam alaikum.

 

[alkathiri]

:salam2:

Sister try not to say that cigarettes are haram because some arabs are heavy smokers and they might be smokers themselves. Instead tell them the harm smoking does to the body and also to those innocent people who breathe in the second hand smoke.

To sum up , some people disagree that smoking is haram but all agree that it causes harm to the body.

I have to say reading your post have inspired me to advise my friend even further to do good and leave the bad things. Thanks

 

[soulzcore]

Asak!!

As far as i know,most Arabs consider smoking as a Makrooh and not haraam..One of my classmates who had lived in saudi for many years is a heavy smoker..Whn i asked him to quit,he plainly told me that some IMAM's in Saudi also smoke..

 

[iislam4ever]

i like the fact that you care about Muslim ummah..may Allaah reward you. :tti_sister:.wat i suggest you to do is to wait till that brother, who owns the store to come to the mosque. once he comes then you could warn him about it rather than walking into store randomly..

 

[warda A]

cigarette

:salam2:

kindly clarify for me with evidence that cigarettes are haram

 

[q8penpals]

Salam

Is is a chain gas station or a branch of another? If it is a chain, the owner may not have a choice over every single product that they sell if they want to keep their franchaise license.

I would make sure you have all the facts before you present anything to them.

Lana

 

[Aapa]

Salaam,

Sister, sometimes in life it is better to tackle other issues. You are not in a position to take this on. Support the brother, he is supporting his family and who knows how much money he is sending to others. This is his choice.
I am saying this to you out of love.

 

[Al-Kashmiri]

:salam2:

kindly clarify for me with evidence that cigarettes are haram

There is a book by Muhammad Al-Jibaly called something like "Smoking, a Social Poison" on the topic that you may wish to investigate.

As for it being haraam, then it falls under the generality of being a) a waste of money, b) a harm to one's health and c) harm to others health. It is worth mentioning that even before the harms of smoking were known/discovered, many of the `Ullema outlawed it, saying it is haraam. In fact when Saudi Dynasty started, maa shaa Allaah the ameer and the `Ullema ruled out smoking, banning it from the province. Here is what Shaykh `Uthaymeen, rahimahullah said in regards to smoking.

The penalty for smoking
www.fatwa-online.com
Question: What is the penalty for a smoker according to the Sharee'ah?

Response: The smoker is one who is engaging in something haraam, since smoking (itself) is haraam, and we have previously mentioned the evidences as to its prohibition. So, based upon this, if the smoker knows it is haraam, then he is persisting in something which is considered from amongst the minor sins. (However), persisting in something which is considered from amongst the minor sins in itself renders the sin a major sin. So, as a result, he is regarded as a faasiq (open sinner), and immoral and not to be regarded (both in speech and actions). This is because that which is widely accepted amongst the scholars is that whoever persists in something which is regarded as a minor sin, then he is a faasiq, and his speech or actions are not to be regarded in all that which requires uprightness.

So it is upon this man to fear his Lord and refrain from smoking which severely affects the wealth, the body and the (practice of the) religion.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa Manaar al-Islaam - Volume 3, Page 744, Question No.615

For some more fataawaa about smoking and trading cigarettes,

http://www.fatwa-online.com/buyingandselling/selling/sel002/index.htm
http://www.fatwa-online.com/fataawa/buyingandselling/buying/buy003/0000417_1.htm

 

[salahdin]

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

ASALAMA ALEIKUM WA RAHMATULLAHI WA BARAKATU..A Muslim is a Muslim's brother; he does not wrong him or abandon him. If anyone cares for his brother's need, Allah will care for his need; if anyone removes his brother's anxiety, Allah will remove from him one of the anxieties of the Day of Resurrection; and if anyone conceals a Muslim's secret, Allah will conceal his secret on the Day of Resurrection.
(Bukhari, Muslim).

.Actions will be judged by intentions, and everyone will be recompensed according to what he intended.
(Bukhari).ASALAMA ALEIKUM WA RAHMATULLAHI WA BARAKATU

 

[ahmad al magtani]

Assalamualaikum,
well in my place ciggaretes is not haram but makruh but there is also say it haram but mostly Oelama in my place say it makruh.
walaikumsalam

 

[amina88]

no, its haram

Maybe that's because those 'ulama' smoke themselves! Cigarette smoke is haram brother why? Because it harms:
1-Your body
2-Other people's body
3-Your pocket
4-Is a slow form of s.u.i.c.i.d.e
5-Stinks
6-Waste of time
7-Money not wisely spent....

I am seriously allergic to cigerette smoke, I can die from its smell within a minute and if you don't believe me, then ask a doctor about this condition. My lungs simply shut down once in contact with that pesty smell so I have no sympathy for those who smoke.

Assalamualaikum,
well in my place ciggaretes is not haram but makruh but there is also say it haram but mostly Oelama in my place say it makruh.
walaikumsalam

 

[Al-Kashmiri]

Maybe that's because those 'ulama' smoke themselves! Cigarette smoke is haram brother why? Because it harms:
1-Your body
2-Other people's body
3-Your pocket
4-Is a slow form of s.u.i.c.i.d.e
5-Stinks
6-Waste of time
7-Money not wisely spent....

I am seriously allergic to cigerette smoke, I can die from its smell within a minute and if you don't believe me, then ask a doctor about this condition. My lungs simply shut down once in contact with that pesty smell so I have no sympathy for those who smoke.

Very true. I can't see how people rule it to be makrooh. Most of those I know of who have said as such claim to follow the fiqh of the Imam, Abu Haneefah, rahimahullaah. What's amazing is that in the Muslim world where people are smoking away saying (in many cases) "makrooh ya`ni" and yet here in UK, smoking in public has now been ruled out....

May Allaah guide this Ummah that which is beneficial for them, that which will aid them in this life and the next!

 

[hussain.mahammed]

:salam2: i need all of your inputs brothers and sisters. The masjid we go to has a gas station next to it, the gas station is owned by arab muslims...but in the store, things such as cigaretts are sold in it. i want to inform them how it is haram and how they should not sell those things so that Allah will be pleased with them and so that their business will be successful if they do stop selling that stuff. i want to inform them in an appropriate way which will not offend them nor make them angry. i was about to enter their gas station and say that but however, something my sisters said discouraged me and i hadn't entered the store and said what i wanted to say. i just want to let them know that as muslims we should care for one another and want good for each other. i want the muslims to see their wrong actions and repent to Allah, i want them to be able to run to the masjid and pray in it and to stop selling things that harm others. my question is how shall i do that? i need courage to do it, and i believe i can do it, but i just want to know if i'm being silly and stupid about this whole thing, because as i said i was discouraged because i was laughed at but i still want to continue and inshaAllah tomorrow is another opportunity. JazakaAllah to all who do help me through this. :salam2:

Walaikum as salam wa rahmatullahi wabrakatuhu sister

I am humbled by your sincere and noble intentions for the sake of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala, trying to help our brothers and sisters in Islam. May Allah Subhanahu wa Taala reward for your sincere dedication and thoughts for the development of this Ummah.

Before trying to seek a solution to the problem, we need to get to its roots. Reasoning power - Why these Muslims are selling haram products? They are Muslims who like us know what is halal and what is haram. Still they continue with their business. The problem lies in their intentions which has resulted into their actions.

It is not permissible to sell them because when Allaah forbids a thing He also forbids its price. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Allaah has cursed the Jews because fat was forbidden to them, but they sold it and took its price. When Allaah forbids something he also forbids its price.’” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 2546).

Similarly, the means to something haraam is also haraam; the means comes under the same rulings as the end. It is not permissible for a Muslim to help evildoers in their evil. He is obliged as much as possible to come between them and their evil, and try to prevent them from doing that, not to improve the haraam thing and help to develop it.

With regard to doubtful things, it is better not to sell them, so as to be free of any blame, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said. Al-Nu’maan ibn Basheer said: “I heard him saying, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “What is permitted is clear and what is prohibited is clear, and between them are doubtful things which many people do not know about. Whoever avoids doubtful things will be on the safe side with regard to his religion and his honour, but whoever falls into doubtful things will fall into haraam things.”’” (Reported by Muslim, 2996). And Allaah is the Source of Strength

http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ref=3746&ln=eng&txt=selling haram

2-3 years back we had a No Smoking campaign in our Islamic Cultural Centre. Unfortunately it died out, and people still smoke just in front of the mosque. When we Muslims try to do something we are not resolute and steadfast in our actions. Thats one of the reasons for our downfall. I know Arab Muslims, Turkmenistan Muslims who have bars and restaurants, and they sell alcohol, liquor of all kinds. They even come to our mosque. And when a Muslim brother asked why do you sell these haram stuffs, they replied that its for the non-Muslims.

Sister, actions speak louder than words, which we need to emphasize upon. Remember the story of Hasan (RA) and Hussein (RA). Hadrat Hasan and Hadrat Huseyn, may Allahu ta'ala be pleased with them, the grandsons of Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, were traveling in the desert. They came across an old man who was performing ablution (Wudu). The old man was not observing all the necessary conditions of the ablution. They were ashamed to tell the old man that his ablution would not be acceptable. They approached him and told him that they were disputing with each other as to who is taking the better ablution and asked the old man to be the judge. Each one took ablution by observing all necessary conditions. The old man followed their actions closely and at the end told them, Oh my sons! I just learned how to take ablution from you.

Hope you can understand what I am talking about.

Regarding Smoking, please brothers and sisters check the threads below.

The Evil of Smoking

Cigarette Smoking - Is it Haraam (unlawful) in Islaam

Ruling on Smoking and chewing tobacco

Smoking

wa/salam

 

[amina88]

This forum makes me think, I have asked sooo many people, even our local imam, he said it was halal, everyone else is divided. My question is, as part of my job rquirements, I sell swine products thats have been vacuum sealed. Is that haram? Is my income from such a source lawful? If someone can give me an answer, then I will be most thankful. I have asked heaps of people to illiminate bias and to get a more balanced answer, but now I'm confused. The debate on both sides is very strong...

"It is not permissible to sell them because when Allaah forbids a thing He also forbids its price. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Allaah has cursed the Jews because fat was forbidden to them, but they sold it and took its price. When Allaah forbids something he also forbids its price.’” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 2546).

How authentic is the above hadith? In which context was it stated? Does it apply to all times and generations or just that group of people at that time?