Shisha smoking is haram, Muslims reminded

KUCHING: Much like smoking normal cigarettes, shisha or waterpipe smoking has also been recently declared haram (forbidden) for Muslims, and although no action will be taken against the smoker, it will be at the person’s own risk.

The Fatwa (Edicts) Committee of the National Council for Islamic Affairs issued a statement on July 19 indicating that taking a puff from the waterpipe, which is often filled with flavoured tobacco, was haram for Muslims after having experts from the Health Ministry scrutinise medical and scientific evidence from the country and abroad on the ill-effects of shisha.