smokers collapsing in death while still talking to you, or dying as they lie in bed; should they lift the lightest object, their heart fails and they die. This clearly shows how harmful smoking is, and whatever is harmful is forbidden to a person, for Allah says, “And do not kill yourselves; indeed, Allah has always been Merciful to you” (An-Nisa 4:29). Some of those afflicted with tobacco find it hard to give it up, yet if a person were to wean himself from it gradually and keep away from those who smoke, quitting would become easy and he would eventually detest even its smell. The matter, however, demands strong determination and genuine faith.

The second example—something many find difficult and to which great numbers have succumbed—is shaving the beard. Shaving the beard is forbidden, for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Distinguish yourselves from the Magians; distinguish yourselves from the idolaters; grow your beards full and trim your mustaches.” Many people have been overpowered by their own souls and now shave their beards. I cannot see what they gain by doing so—nothing but sins that pile up until they weaken their faith, Allah forbid—because the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah holds that sins diminish faith. Thus the man who shaves his beard acquires sins that erode his faith, while shaving neither increases his energy nor improves his health nor keeps illness at bay. It is merely a temptation that has become burdensome to him. Therefore, a believer must strive against his own soul to carry out the commands and refrain from the prohibitions so that he may be numbered among those who strive in the path of Allah. Concerning the reward of such people, Allah the Exalted has said: