The Supreme Council of Darul Ifta of the Philippines in Cotabato City has joined moves initiated by the Department of Health (DoH) to curb smoking in the country with the release of an Islamic religious ruling or fatwa recently.

The latest ruling approved unanimously by the council and signed by Grand Mufti Sheikh Omar Pasigan states that smoking cigarettes is now considered “haram or forbidden.’’

“Smoking is forbidden in the Sharia’h or Islamic Jurisprudence because of it being filthy, containing numerous harmful chemicals. Almighty Allah has permitted only good things for his servants such as food, drinks and other lawful ones,’’ the fatwa said.

The ruling said “no Muslim may manufacture, buy, sell, trade or promote tobacco since these actions represent aiding someone in committing a sin.’’

“The Sharia’h prohibits smoking in all its forms because it does not belong to good things. Muslims should not do something that causes destruction to their body, and smoking is a form of destruction.’’

The fatwa also stressed that “Allah forbids his servants in wasting money by spending it on cigarettes which are harmful to the body.’’

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral hailed the council’s effort to curtail one of the biggest health threats to humans.

“This declaration would persuade many to quit immediately and would carry anti-tobacco messages to their communities,’’ Cabral said.

“There is no single benefit one can derive from smoking. Quitting greatly reduces health risks and produces immediate and long-term health benefits,’’ she said.