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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright October 2024
For Muslim smokers, enjoying a post-meal cigarette at your favorite halal restaurant might soon become a thing of the past. The Muslim Restaurant Operators Association of Malaysia (PRESMA) is making a strong push to eliminate cigarette sales at eateries under their umbrella.
According to a recent report by Astro Awani, nearly 40% of the 12,000 eateries affiliated with PRESMA have already stopped selling cigarettes, and more are expected to follow.
PRESMA’s President, Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan, sees this as a positive shift for the industry. In a clear message, he emphasised that just as halal restaurants have long banned alcohol, they should now take the same stance with cigarettes. "If we say alcohol is haram, there were still eateries (under PRESMA) that were selling alcohol, but now, there are no more. If they want to be fully halal, they will also have to avoid selling cigarettes in the near future," he explained.
This movement isn’t just about health—it’s about aligning halal practices with the evolving understanding of Islamic principles. Cigarettes, like alcohol, are increasingly being viewed as harmful and unclean, both for the individual and the community. In fact, a restaurant in Puncak Alam even received a letter of appreciation from the Minister of Health for ceasing cigarette sales—a clear signal that this is the direction the industry is headed.
The Implications for Smokers
For those who see a trip to the local mamak or halal restaurant as incomplete without a cigarette break, this shift is bound to cause frustration.
After all, the post-meal smoke has become an ingrained ritual for many. But with more eateries phasing out cigarette sales, Muslim smokers may soon find themselves with fewer places to enjoy their habit while dining out.
Worse yet, the increasing alignment between health regulations and Islamic principles could mean even stricter enforcement in the future. Just as smoking is already banned in public areas of restaurants, a complete removal of cigarette sales may signal the next logical step: a full prohibition of smoking within the premises of halal establishments altogether.
A Cultural Shift in the Making
What’s happening here is not just a health-driven initiative—it’s a cultural shift. Halal is no longer just about the food on the table, but also about promoting a lifestyle that adheres to cleanliness and moral well-being. This is part of a broader trend where Islamic scholars and public health authorities are converging on the idea that smoking should be viewed as haram, or forbidden, under Islamic law.
The message is clear: if alcohol is haram and banned from halal eateries, then cigarettes—which damage the body and expose others to harm—should follow suit. Muslim diners may soon need to rethink their smoking habits, at least when visiting their favourite restaurants.
For smokers, the writing is on the wall: it’s time to prepare for a future where lighting up at halal eateries might no longer be an option. And for those who don’t smoke, this could mean cleaner air and a healthier dining experience all around.
This is indeed bad news for smokers, but it may very well be good news for everyone else.
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