Smoking in PIA

I was in a Cathay Pacific Flight frm HKG to LA, nd I tried to smoke. Infact I went into the toilet, firstly I tried to coverup the smoke detector somehow but invain, so I light up the borrowed cig frm the only match I had at tht time. After couple of suttay smoke alarm started. Bang bang on the door. At tht moment I made a decision, Yarr if I have to pay the fine in necase then I shuld better finish the most expensive cig of ma life. They kept on bangin on the door for gudd 5 min. I flushed the bud. And then went outta the bathroom. They started scoldin me so hard tht ma ears were abt to spill the blood off. But I did one of the most comic gesture of ma life, I said ``No english`` Only Urdu. And then those guys were so pissed off. Afterwards after the landin of the plane the cabin crew took me to Mr. Pilot, who told me tht ther is gonna be a gudd fine or else if I try to misbehave he will hand me over to the authorities. I said at tht moment in English, ``I will pay ya guys watsoever ya are askin me to pay``, But first prove tht I was smokin. In the meantime the whole plane was empty. They kept on argumentin for almost an hour then some airline`s airport crew got invloved aswell. Though they were tryin to kinda scare me of the local authorities. Infact tht borrowed cig saved ma day. lolzz. But to some extent the moment I came outta the bathroom was one of the most embarrassing moment of ma life as so many ppl was lookin at me.

Thnxx..

Tauheed sahab: :)

A Contribution to Statistics


Out of a hundred people

those who always know better
-fifty-two

doubting every step
-nearly all the rest,

glad to lend a hand
if it doesn`t take too long
-as high as forty-nine,

always good
because they can`t be otherwise
-four, well maybe five,

able to admire without envy
-eighteen,

suffering illusions
induced by fleeting youth
-sixty, give or take a few,

not to be taken lightly
-forty and four,

living in constant fear
of someone or something
-seventy-seven,

capable of happiness
-twenty-something tops,

harmless singly, savage in crowds
-half at least,

cruel
when forced by circumstances
-better not to know
even ballpark figures,

wise after the fact
-just a couple more
than wise before it,

taking only things from life
-thirty
(I wish I were wrong),

hunched in pain,
no flashlight in the dark
-eighty-three
sooner or later,

righteous
-thirty-five, which is a lot,

righteous
and understanding
-three,

worthy of compassion
-ninety-nine,

mortal
-a hundred out of a hundred.
thus far this figure still remains unchanged.

-- Wislawa Szymborska

Mr. Q. Jesus Daudpota,

Do you by any chance live in People`s Republic of Boulder, CO- USA?
Do you call yourself Boulderite!
You sure sound like one.

I have only one thing to say majority should rule!!!

Wow!! i I will definitely fly PIA next time.

Ansari #18 you write ``And to be able to make rational choices we must needs be informed by certain moral principles on which to base our decisions. ``

This, I think brings us a giant step close to the heart of the matter. I prefer to use the term ``values``. But ``moral principles`` is close enough.

you write: ``These principles are found in the Quran and in the examples of the Prophet.``
Agreed that one can find them in the Quran and in the examples of the Prophet. I would add that these principles can also be found through other sources: teachings of their respective religions being one traditional source in various societies. And from introspection by philosphers like Immanual Kant (whose Categorical Imperitive encapsulates moral principles very neatly in just one sentence), or plain ``folk wisdom`` (e.g. ``honesty is the best policy``). I often refer to the Quran only, but I think there is no real disagreement on the all important point of what is right and what is wrong. I think everyone understands that, but all too often we permit expediency to allow us to do wrong things. Thus, whether we are muslims, buddhists, jews, or non-religious, we all understand that knowledge is better than ignorance, kindness is better than cruelty, sacrifice is better than selfishness, honesty is better than dishonesty, and (coming back to this article) not being slave to a habit (as in smoking) is better than being a slave to a habit and good health is better than bad health. So I dont think there is much controversy here either.

So, we can conclude that the central issue, the heart of the matter is not the source of our inspiration, or the nature of the inspiration. Rather the central issue is: HOW do we do the right thing? The key here I think is (a) rational thinking that allows us to apply these broad values to specific situations (e.g. smoking in planes) and (b) character.

Reply # 16 tahmed32
Reply # 17 septran

Could not agree with you people more.

All the holy scriptures came for the goodness of mankind. What is required is to take the spirit behind them and evolve our own understanding in line with our present times.

One never hears such a debate in the Christian, Buddhist, Hindue, Parsi world because they have openly imbibed secularism as their way of life.

But the Muslims are still in a great mess on this basic fundamental issue. The result is for every one to see.

Tauheed sahab,

``I think it is in keeping with Quranic instructions to focus on common sense in dealing with such issues, since that demonstrates our appreciation of God`s gift of a brain and reasoning powers.``

Absolutely. I agree with you. And to be able to make rational choices we must needs be informed by certain moral principles on which to base our decisions. These principles are found in the Quran and in the examples of the Prophet. In a situation such as this, where there is a pre-existing moral precedent set by the Prophet, I believe it`s necessary to refer to that when we make our choice.

#16
well said.god has given man the gift of common sense and senses.in fact god is not offened by any of our actions,it is the reaction of our behavour which affect us.

Reply # 13 and 14 Ansari sahib - Thanks.

# 11 Ali Thanks.

I agree that smoking should not be permitted. Even a smoker like me gets irritated when some one else smokes a different brand. One can always sleep it off for 5-6 hours and fight the urge. (eat something bitter)

As for the religious angle, I knew I was stepping into an unchartered territory. It is a long subject and we can discuss it some times. A Post will not do the right justice.

Ansari #14 I realize you are responding to nazar hayat`s request for islamic instructions on how to deal with smoking inside PIA. I dont think that God is not a micromanager who tells us which shoe lace to tie first, and whether we should or should not step in front of a moving freight train. For day to day living, God has given man the gift of common sense and the senses.
I think it is in keeping with Quranic instructions to focus on common sense in dealing with such issues, since that demonstrates our appreciation of God`s gift of a brain and reasoning powers. To ignore that and start seeking instructions on everything is to express our ingratitude for this gift of rationality.

Nazar sahab,

The following are some excerpts from The Lawful and Prohibited in Islam by Yusuf Qaradawi:

A general rule of the Islamic shariah is that it is haram for the Muslim to eat or drink anything which may cause his death, either quickly or gradually, such as poisons, or substances that are injurious to health or harmful to his body. It is also haram to eat or drink large quantities of a substance if large quantities of it cause illness. For the Muslim is not entirely his own master; he is also an asset to his religion and his ummah (the Muslim nation), and his life, health, wealth, and all that Allah has bestowed upon him are a trust with him which he is not permitted to diminish. Says Allah Subhanahu wa Ta`aala:

``And do not kill yourselves; indeed Allah is ever merciful to you.`` (4:29)

He also says:

``And do not be cast into ruin by your own hands...`` (2:195)

And His Messenger (peace be upon him) said:

``Do not harm yourself or others.``

As an application of this priniciple, we may say that if it is proved that the use of tobacco is injurious to health, it is haram, especially for a person whose physician has advised him to stop smoking.

. . .

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was once asked about certain drinks made from honey, corn or barley by the process of fermenting them until they became alcoholic. He replied:

``Every intoxicant is khamr, and every khamr is haram.``

The Prophet has said:

``Truly, Allah has cursed khamr and has cursed the one ho produces it, the one for whom it is produced, the one who drinks it, the one who serves it, the one who carries it, the one for whom it is carried, the one who sells it, the one who earns from the sale of it, the one who buys it, the one for whom it is bought.``

NHK,

I thought drinking was banned due to the story about Hazrat Bilal, and the Azan... please can u shed some more light on the date drink stuff...

Smoking should be banned on PIA, i am a smoker, but never smoke on a plane its just absolutely disgusting, if ur a heavy smoker take some bloody patches...

response to several earlier comments:

1. most good airlines do not permit smoking at all. no airline flying into or out of the usa is permitted to have smoking on board.

2. these airlines do not provide nicotine patches. people who are addicted can purchase them before boarding. shops in the departure lounges should carry these cigarette substitutes & people should be allowed to buy them during the flight as well.

3. let`s not bring religion into everything that is discussed at chowk. religious injunctions needn`t be tranferred to what happens in a cabin 30,000 ft above ground level, or for that matter to societal affairs at ground level!

4. moderate drinking is allowed on most good airlines since it does not harm other passengers. crew members are empowered to refuse drink to those who are about to become a nuisance.

5. people should be free to kill themselves as they wish as long as they do not hurt others. it is for this reason alone that smoking ought to be stopped in our airline. it is purely a health issue, with absolutely nothing to do with religion!

isa daudpota
9:30 pm pk time sunday 1 june 2003

Just to widen the debate:

Is smoking anti-Islamic? Afterall, its affect is the same as Port or Sherry.

And if smoking is permitted, why not light alchoholic drinks like Champegne?

In fact, the Book does not prohibit drinking. It only extols that they be avoided.

And only those drinks that are made out of dates!

Any takers!

for god sake you are treating smokers as a patient of lepracy.smokers can`t quit smoking so easily.in december 2000 iwas on long flight on PIA in club class,smoking was completly banned.i felt the person next to me was in complete unrest.he told me that he wanted to smoke.one of the crew member took him to seprate cabin where,to my surprise other crew members were already smoking let them live happily till they control themselves.too much aware ness has made human phaga.l.

nvp2003 #7 The biggest smokers on PIA I found were free-loading PIA officials (travelling on free seats, smoking free cigarettes). No money to be made from them. Only lost - first to pay for their salaries, second on account of lost revenue due to passengers cleverly bumped to make room for officials, and third for the free cigarettes smoked as well as cartons they make off with getting off the planes.

You know what can REALLY help?
Nicotine chewing gum for passive smokers and some chilled beer for the smokers!
I mean what else do they want to ban on PIA??
What next? Barbie dolls!
How about banning non-smokers and non-drinkers! Can do a world of good for poor PIA.

response to #1

It was Mr Nawaz Sharif who stopped smoking on internal flights. I believe General Musharraf smokes; not sure about Mr Jamali.

The General, instead of making those endless speeches could come on the box and declare that he had given up the weed. It would get him a lot of brownie points and a hug from Gro Harlem Brundtland (sp?), WHO supremo, who has worked hard to come up with the comprehensive anti-tobacco legislation.

I had only been to Beijing and at that time the place was considered safe - 8-15 April. Clearly it wasn`t! In fact I was the only Pakistani on the flight with the mask. My experience with the mask and my positive impressions of Beijing will shortly appear in the Friday Times (www.thefridaytimes.com).

response to #2

The latest research report in Time and elsewhere, such as the British Medical Association journal, has been sponsored by Big Tobacco. Such tobacco company research has in the recent past been discredited - company documents revealed that scientists were `bribed` to push forward reports and papers in prestigious journals that showed tobacco to be harmless or less harmful that previously reported by anti-tobacco activists.

The US Courts ordered these companies to reveal all these incriminating documents and these are available on the net. At one time one could access them through the Guardian web page (www.guardian.co.uk) and also the Multinational Monitor`s page.

Even if passive smoking is not as harmful as previously thought, there is no reason why smoker should be allowed to subject others to any risk.

Nicotine chewing gum should help!

Ras

Hit the smokers hard on their pocketbook. Discriminate against them. Treat them as low life. Have fun doing it. I know of a company that passed a unanimous policy of allowing employees smoke break outside the building and deduct the non productive time-value from the wages. Company was able to reduce smoking on premises and also got a break on Health Insurance Premium. It a Jihad we can join hands. Additcts you must quit. You can do it. I have done it. No Bullshit!!!

why dont u get a list of names and put it on a letter and send it to the former prime minister, BTW which former PM?

PIA = Prayers In the Air - Utter crap, but the only direct option from the UK...

Did u not get quarantined for coming from a SARS infected country?

The latest research indicates (Time magazine) that passive smoking is noy as harmful as once thought.