INDOPOSCO.ID – The debate over the halal status of cigarettes has resurfaced. The Indonesian Empowered Consumers Forum (FKBI), together with the National Committee for Tobacco Control (Komnas PT), held a public debate titled “Cigarettes: Halal or Non-Halal?” in Jakarta on Saturday (Sept. 19, 2026).
The forum was held ahead of the Oct. 18, 2026 deadline for mandatory halal certification of food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and consumer-use products circulating in Indonesia, except for products explicitly declared non-halal.
The issue of smoking from an Islamic perspective is not a new debate. Some Islamic scholars consider smoking makruh (discouraged), while others rule it haram (forbidden), citing the principle that actions causing harm to oneself or others should be prohibited. At the same time, the issue intersects with the tobacco industry’s interests in maintaining social acceptance of its products. Academic studies of several internal industry documents previously reported by international media have indicated that tobacco companies have long studied the influence of religious teachings and religious figures on people’s smoking behavior.
FKBI Chairman Tulus Abadi highlighted the addictive nature of cigarettes and their impact on society. He said the treatment of cigarettes under the excise tax regime bears similarities to alcohol and alcoholic beverages, as both are subject to excise taxes based on their characteristics and impacts.
“The addictive nature of cigarettes indicates that they are not thayyib [wholesome], as they create negative externalities as well as dependence or addiction among users,” Tulus said.
From a health regulatory perspective, tobacco products and electronic cigarettes have been classified as addictive substances under Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health. Government Regulation No. 28 of 2024 also regulates safeguards for these products, including measures to reduce smoking prevalence, prevent initiation among new smokers, and protect the public from adverse health, economic, and environmental impacts.
Chairman of the National Committee for Tobacco Control, Prof. Dr. Hasbullah Thabrany, questioned the rationale behind granting a halal label to products that carry health warnings.
“If 10 milliliters of liquid nicotine can kill a person instantly, and cigarette packs carry the warning ‘smoking kills you,’ then they are given a halal label. Does that make sense?” Hasbullah said.
A similar view was expressed by KH. M. Saad Ibrahim, Chairman of the Tabligh, Community Da’wah, Islamic Boarding School Affairs, and Hajj-Umrah Guidance Division of the Muhammadiyah Central Executive Board. He said the harms caused by cigarettes outweigh their benefits.
“If we put a halal label on cigarettes, that would be a sign of regression,” he said emphatically.
From the regulator’s perspective, however, halal certification is governed by a mechanism that must comply with applicable laws and regulations. Djamaludin, Director of Halal Registration at the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH), said the agency operates based on laws, government regulations, and decisions issued by the Minister of Religious Affairs.
“As regulators, we receive input from various experts, including health experts and the Indonesian Ulema Council [MUI]. This meeting will serve as an input for us in developing technical guidelines for halal product labeling,” Djamaludin explained.
Meanwhile, MUI Secretary-General Amirsyah Tambunan acknowledged that the negative impacts of smoking outweigh its benefits. However, he called for the determination of whether cigarettes should be classified as halal or non-halal to be carried out carefully and without haste.
“Let’s not rush. We should not be quick to assign labels. If it is halal, what kind of product would that be? If it is haram, what kind? There should be an audit first,” Amirsyah added.
The debate underscored that the issue of halal labeling for cigarettes involves more than religious considerations. It also intersects with public health, consumer protection, regulation, and broader social impacts. Through the public debate, FKBI and Komnas PT called for decisions concerning the labeling of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes to continue placing public welfare and protection at the center of consideration.
Hasbullah concluded the forum with a strong appeal to Indonesian Muslims.
“For the sake of the welfare of the Muslim community, let us all speak up. Do not let tobacco products receive a halal label!” Hasbullah said in closing. (her)
