A:
The questioner mentioned that these drugs are made of tobacco powder to be inhaled for medication purposes and that trustworthy people told him that they have an anesthetic effect. Thus, the Committee gave the following answer:As it has anesthetic effect, it is not permissible for a Muslim to use it as medicine for it is Haram (prohibited).
Treatment is not allowed through unlawful substances, for it is related by
Al-Bukhari in his Sahih (authentic) Book in Hadith Mu`allaq (a Hadith missing link in the chain of narration, reported directly from the Prophet) on the authority of
Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he (the Prophet) said, "Allah did not make your cure in whatever He prohibited for you." However,
Al-Tabarany reported it in a continuous chain of trustworthy narrators and it is also related by
Ahmad,
Ibn Hibban in his Sahih Book of Hadith, and
Al-Bazzar and
Abu Ya`la in their Musnads (Hadith compilations), and the narrators of
Abu Ya`la are Rijal Al-Sahih (narrators of Hadith compiled by Al-Bukhari and/or Muslim).
Muslim also narrated in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith on the authority of
Tariq ibn Suwayd Al-Ju`fy
That he asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about Khamr (intoxicants). He forbade (its use) and he expressed hatred that it should be prepared. He (Tariq) said, "I prepare it as medicine." Whereupon, he (peace be upon him) said, "It is not medicine; it is rather an ailment."
It is related in Sahih Book of
Muslim on the authority of
Tariq ibn Suwayd Al-Hadramy
that he said: (Part No. 25; Page No. 18) O Messenger of Allah! We cultivate grapes in our lands, press them and consume their juice. The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade him from that. He again told the Prophet that they use grape juice as medicine, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, "It is not a cure; it is an ailment."
Also, Ahl-ul-Sunan (authors of Hadith compilations classified by jurisprudential themes) narrated on the authority of
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) saying,
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade malicious medicine.
It was related by
Abu Dawud in his Sunan on the authority of
Abu Al-Darda' that Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said,
Allah has sent down both the disease and the cure, and He has appointed a cure for every disease, so treat yourselves medically, but use nothing unlawful.
These proofs indicate that it is prohibited to seek treatment through unlawful and malicious substances or through Khamr (intoxicants). Moreover, they expound that Allah does not make the remedies in prohibited things. Forbidding the use of these substances entails their prohibition.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.