JAKARTA, The Kabar News—The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has declared the use, production and sale of electronic cigarettes haram. The council cites health risks and the potential misuse of vaping devices to consume illegal drugs.

The ruling is in MUI Fatwa No. 131/2026 on the Use of Electronic Cigarettes (vapes). The council’s Fatwa Commission adopted the decision at its plenary meeting in Jakarta on Friday, Nov. 6, before publishing it on Monday.

Under the fatwa, Muslims must not use electronic cigarettes. The ruling also prohibits their manufacture and trade under Islamic law. It separately declares the use of vaping devices for consuming narcotics or other addictive substances haram.

“Using electronic cigarettes or vapes is haram because they endanger health, damage the environment and could facilitate the consumption of narcotics,” MUI Fatwa Affairs Chairman Asrorun Ni’am Sholeh said, quoting the ruling.

MUI defines a vape as a battery-powered or similar device that heats a substance containing nicotine, glycerin and flavoring to produce an inhaled aerosol. The fatwa describes nicotine as addictive and harmful to the nervous system.

MUI said the ruling aimed to protect the public, especially children and adolescents. Furthermore, the council also urged businesses to comply and called on families, educational institutions and Islamic organizations to increase awareness of nicotine addiction.

Supporting data indicate that vaping has expanded rapidly in Indonesia. Electronic-cigarette use among adults rose from 0.3 percent in 2011 to 3 percent in 2021, representing well over 6 million users, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

About 12 percent of Indonesian students aged 13 to 17 used electronic cigarettes. WHO warns that adolescent nicotine exposure can harm brain development and increase the risk of long-term dependence.

The organization supports stronger controls, including a complete ban on electronic cigarettes, to prevent wider uptake among young people. WHO Indonesia published the findings in May.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has also said electronic cigarettes should not be considered a safe substitute for conventional cigarettes. The ministry has raised concerns about noncommunicable diseases and the modification of vape liquids with psychoactive substances. The Health Ministry reiterated the warning in July.

The MUI ruling provides religious guidance and does not itself create criminal penalties or automatically prohibit vape sales under Indonesian law. However, electronic cigarettes remain subject to national health regulations, including Government Regulation No. 28/2024.

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That regulation sets a minimum purchasing age of 21 and restricts advertising to children. In addition, the Health Ministry has issued guidelines for monitoring tobacco and electronic cigarette advertising across social media, websites and commercial applications.

MUI therefore recommended that the president and the House of Representatives (DPR) enact legislation prohibiting vapes and establishing sanctions.

It also asked government agencies to strengthen market supervision and prevent vaping devices from being used to distribute illegal substances.

The distinction is important: MUI Fatwa No. 131/2026 provides an Islamic ruling. However, a ban on a nationwide commercial basis would require Indonesian lawmaking and the regulatory system.