East Java MUI Issues Fatwa Against Vape Misuse for Narcotics

The East Java Provincial Board of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has declared the misuse of electronic cigarettes (vapes) as a medium for narcotics, psychotropics, intoxicants, and prohibited addictive substances as haram through Fatwa Number 1 of 2026. “We want this fatwa to be a preventive measure. Do not let electronic cigarettes be misused for drugs,” said Chairman of the East Java MUI, KH Abdul Halim Soebagar, in Surabaya on Thursday. The fatwa, enacted in early July 2026, stresses that the prohibition targets the act of misusing vaping devices for activities related to narcotics, not the general use of electronic cigarettes. The ruling explains that misuse refers to the use of electronic cigarettes or vape liquids that deviates from their intended purpose, function, legal provisions, and applicable regulations. Electronic cigarettes were originally intended as a medium for delivering nicotine or other substances through a vaporisation process. Beyond the misuse of vapes as a medium for narcotics, the MUI also determined that any facilities supporting the misuse or illegal production of smoking devices fall under the category of haram. “Anything that brings great harm and damages the social order, whether to oneself or others, must be dealt with firmly,” KH Abdul Halim stated. He affirmed that the fatwa was issued as a preventive effort against drug consumption through various media, including the misuse of vapes. The prohibited activities include producing, concocting, processing, mixing, packaging, distributing, importing, exporting, trading, promoting, advertising, or providing narcotics and other prohibited substances. One point of the fatwa explicitly states that misusing electronic cigarettes, vape liquids, or similar devices as a means of using, storing, concealing, or disseminating narcotics, psychotropics, intoxicants, and prohibited addictive substances is haram. The East Java MUI also stressed the importance of involving various parties to strengthen coordination in supervision and early detection to prevent narcotics misuse through electronic cigarettes. “We are cooperating with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), the Health Office, the police, and various experts. This fatwa was compiled based on textual studies, context, and field clarifications so that it has an accountable scientific basis,” said KH Abdul Halim.