Q: Is it permissible to use haraam items for medicinal use. e.g. it is said that brandy and whiskey are good for the blood and chest, and to inhale the smoke from dagga is good for those with asthma, and to drink tea from the dagga is good for the stomach.
A. Haraam things as medication can only be used if there is nothing Halaal available for that particular sickness and has to be prescribed by a Deeni conscious Muslim physician, otherwise not. Also, the physician must be almost sure that the Haraam medication will bring relief. (Raddul Muhtaar V2 P116).
Nowadays Halaal medication is available in abundance, thus it will not be permissible to resort to consuming brandy, whisky, etc.
It will not be permissible to smoke dagga. Usually the dagga leaves are boiled and the water (tea) consumed for asthma, and this will only be permissible when other Halaal remedies have been tried and failed to cure one. Under no circumstances will it be permissible to smoke dagga.
Allah Ta’aala knows best.
Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai