The month of Ramadan is a gift for Muslims from their only lord Allah S.W.T, so it is better for them that they must get themselves involved in positive activities and keep themselves away from every negative aspect or action during the blessed month.
One of the many problems that people face during Ramadan is the addiction of smoking up to an extent that some could not fast because of the addiction. Following their aspirations, they ignore the fact that Ramadan is the best of all months and it could also detach themselves from their wicked addiction.
What is more depressing is that despite knowing that smoking cause cardiovascular diseases that include heart attack, hypertension and stroke, they continue to smoke and waste the whole month.
[junkie-alert style=”white”] The smoker must keep this in his mind that if he can quit cigarette during the day then why he can’t keep himself away from cigarette after Iftar. [/junkie-alert]
As we know that excessive smoking can cause blockage of air passageways causing various respiratory diseases such as asthma and lung cancer, it is needed that people must find ways to quit smoking. And if happens during the month of Ramadan, the reward of quitting the addiction will be doubled, if Allah wills.
One of the best ways to get rid of smoking during Ramadan is that one must keep himself busy in doing some work after Iftar. As the smoker keeps himself away from cigarette the whole day, it will be much easier for him during Ramadan than any other day.
It is also better that he tells his friends about his effort of quitting cigarettes in Ramadan and advice them the same. If his company is deeply rooted in cigarettes then he ought to change his company because if he spends time with people who smoke, he will not be able to stop smoking.
While doing this exercise, he should reward himself for every day he don’t smoke and also remember that for most people it takes more than five attempts before they succeed in quitting. So, he must not give up if he fails in the first attempt.
Mohammad Noman
Simply quit!
.
.
.
think, decide and that’s it!
smoked for 13years…and quit in a second…
feels great afterwards being healthy…
best of luck!
Dr. Ahsan Masood Khan
While I agree that the month of Ramadan brings countless blessings and may generate the idea of quitting, I don’t think many smokers would have the will power of my brother Mohammad Noman who has successfully quit a 13 year old habit with sheer will power.
I am a doctor who now runs a clinic to help people quit smoking. I have smoked for 27 years and quit more than two years ago on my 7th or 8th attempt to quit. Of the 7 failures, my 5th or 6th was trying to quit in Ramadan and failing within 24 hrs to smoke at iftar of my first or second fast.
The problem is that more than 90% of smokers who muster up the courage to try after suggestions such as this article and go for it without preparation fail and the failure creates a belief that they cannot quit so they stop trying. I therefore do not believe in cold turkey quitting and especially not when we are in states of living that are not routine i.e. Ramadan: Hunger, Thirst, Long Nights of Prayers and some sleep deprivation are enough to test our will power, adding the burden of quitting will add to it.
Most non smokers and non medical people find smoking to be just another addiction and that is where they are wrong. Unlike all other addictions that people do in private or in very secluded groups, smoking is a leisure activity shared with friends and on occasions etc. Smoking therefore has psychological and behavioral components of addiction in addition to the physical craving part and handling all these three components along with the emotional mixture of Ramadan can be difficult.
My advice: Decide to quit this Ramadan and set a date which is not more than a month away. Start getting professional help to attend to all three components of your addiction. Prepare yourself as much as you can and then quit. May Allah bless you with the freedom from slavery of Tobacco.