Muslim Shopkeepers Stop Selling Tobacco in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, July 10 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Muslim shopkeepers in South Africa are losing cash after they were instructed to stop selling tobacco for religious reasons, a South African newspaper said Tuesday.
The country's Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) has requested that shopkeepers stop selling tobacco products because of their harmful affects, the Independent online said.
According to the Qu'ran, it is not acceptable for Muslims to partake in anything that would harm the body.
One supermarket in Claremont has lost nearly £4,000 a month since it became one of the first establishments to stop selling cigarettes in June of last year, reports the Cape Argus.
"Several Muslims in Claremont got together and we accepted that smoking is hazardous to your health and because we are religious we have no choice in the matter," said Yusuf Mohammat who works in the store.
Mohammat said that because researchers have proven that smoking is harmful to one's health, Muslims should comply with the MJC's call since according to the Qu'ran, it is a sin to do anything that harms the body.
MJC Vice-President Igsaan Hendricks said it was in the best interests of the community that Rosmead and others stop selling tobacco products. He said the Council had a plan on how to eradicate the selling of tobacco products by Muslim-owned shops.
But, Shahieda Marlie, who runs a small shop in the Golden Acre, said she was not prepared to stop the sale of cigarettes because that was where she made the most profit. She said she had the responsibility of providing for her family and if that meant sinning, then she was sure she would be forgiven.
Wembley group director, Abdullah Gangraker, said that they had not been approached by the MJC, but that they would stop selling tobacco products once the Council has consulted with them.
