MILRev: Metro Islamic Law Review
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025): MILRev: Metro Islamic Law Review

Maqasid Sharia and the Biomedical Ethics of E-Cigarettes: A Contemporary Islamic Legal Assessment

Nur Aqila Mohd Zahari (Unknown)
Mohd Hafiz Safiai (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 May 2025

Abstract

This study critically examines the consumption of electronic cigarettes through the integrative lens of Maqasid al-Sharia, health preservation, and legal evaluation. Employing a qualitative methodology grounded in document analysis, this research draws upon a diverse array of primary and secondary sources, including authoritative fatwas, peer-reviewed medical literature, and official public health data. The study adopts a Maqasid-based ijtihad framework, supported by principles from Ushul Fiqh and qawaʿid fiqhiyyah, particularly the maxim al-darar yuzal (harm must be eliminated). Given that e-cigarettes are a modern phenomenon not clearly stated in classical Islamic texts, the issue falls under the domain of fiqh al-nawazil (the jurisprudence of novel occurrences), requiring contemporary legal reasoning (ijtihad mu'asir) to determine their ruling. The findings reveal a substantial incongruity between the use of electronic cigarettes and the core objectives of Maqasid al-Sharia, particularly the imperative to safeguard life (hifz al-nafs) and intellect (hifz al-ʿaql). Moreover, Islamic legal pronouncements on this matter vary, yet a growing corpus of contemporary fatwas aligns with a precautionary stance rooted in the principle of harm prevention. The study underscores that while e-cigarettes are often perceived as less harmful than conventional tobacco, their adverse health effects and potential to undermine societal welfare necessitate a reevaluation within Islamic ethical-legal frameworks. Limitations of the study include its reliance on secondary data and the evolving nature of medical consensus. These findings contribute to a nuanced interdisciplinary dialogue at the intersection of Islamic jurisprudence, public health, and ethical consumption.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

milrev

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

MILRev Is a scientific law journal with a focus on studies in the field of Islamic law, starting from fiqh, fatwa, or qanun (laws, shariah regional regulations, compilations of Islamic laws). The aim is to develop knowledge in the field of Islamic law, in order to be able to respond to the needs of ...