MUI Officially Declares Vape Use Haram

The Fatwa Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has officially issued MUI Fatwa No. 131 of 2026 on the legal status of electronic cigarettes (REL), or vapes. The commission declared every stage of their circulation—from production to trade—as well as their use, haram.

The decision was signed in Jakarta on Monday (9 November 2026) by MUI Fatwa Commission Chairman Prof KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh and Deputy Secretary-General for Fatwas Dr KH Aminuddin Yaqub. It was witnessed by MUI Chairman KH Anwar Iskandar and Secretary-General Buya Amirsyah Tambunan. MUI had previously held a plenary session to adopt the fatwa on Friday, 6 November 2026.

MUI Fatwa Commission Chairman Prof KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh outlined the reasoning behind the fatwa. He said the use of electronic cigarettes had clear harmful effects on society, both in terms of health and social impact.

“Using electronic cigarettes (REL)/vapes is haram because they endanger health and damage the environment, and as a preventive measure (sadd al-dhari’ah) to stop them being used as a means of distributing and consuming narcotics, psychotropic substances and other addictive substances,” Niam said on Monday (9 November 2026), quoting the first point of the fatwa’s legal provisions.

The fatwa defines electronic cigarettes as battery-powered devices that heat substances containing nicotine, glycerine and flavourings to produce inhalable vapour. MUI highlighted the addictive nature of nicotine and its serious adverse effects on the nervous system and overall health.

The ruling applies not only to consumers but also to business activity and misuse. Its second and third points explicitly state that using vapes to consume narcotics, psychotropic substances and other addictive substances is haram. The production and/or sale of electronic cigarettes (REL) or vapes is likewise declared categorically haram.

“Misusing electronic cigarettes (REL)/vapes to consume narcotics, psychotropic substances and other addictive substances is haram. Producing and/or selling electronic cigarettes (REL)/vapes is haram,” Niam said, quoting the second and third points of the fatwa’s legal provisions.

Through MUI Fatwa No. 131 of 2026, Niam said he hoped the public—particularly business operators and young people—would understand and observe Islamic legal provisions to safeguard physical health and the environment, and protect themselves from the dangers of drugs and other addictive substances.