What Is the Ruling on Nicotine Pouches and Their Income?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Are tobacco-free nicotine pouches permissible to use and sell, and what is the ruling on the income?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Tobacco-free nicotine pouches have legitimate uses in assisting those striving to give up smoking.

As such, they are permitted to use and sell, within proper use and guidelines, and income will be permissible.

Tobacco-free nicotine pouches can be used as part of a harm-reduction approach while attempting to stop smoking.

However, they still need to be used under a doctor’s supervision and in accordance with medical guidelines.

Allah Placed Cures for all Diseases

‘Usama ibn Sharik (Allah be pleased with him) reported: A bedouin said, “O Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), shall we not seek treatment?” The Prophet said,

“Yes, O servants of Allah, seek treatment. Verily, Allah did not place a disease but that he also placed its treatment or cure, except for one ailment.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is it?” The Prophet said, “Old age.” [Tirmidhi]

There is no problem with medical treatment if one believes that Allah Most High is the One who heals and that He has made medicine a means.

But if one believes that medicine itself is what heals, then no. [Al-Ushi al-Farghani, Al-Fatawa al-Sirajiyya]

Maintaining Health Through Care and Treatment

Preserving one’s health through care and treatment is part of fulfilling Allah’s trust.

Our bodies are a trust (amana) by Allah. Therefore, we are commanded to preserve and look after it through proper care and treatment.

And Allah knows best.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

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Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.