© World Health Organization 2000

Religion has a strong influence in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Many of the principles of Islam call upon people to look after their health, to avoid health hazards and risks and to raise their standards of hygiene. The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean sought the opinions of a number of eminent Muslim scholars with regard to the Islamic ruling on smoking. The general consensus concerning the Islamic ruling was that smoking is either completely prohibited or abhorrent to such a degree as to be prohibited.