Cigarettes Are an Extremely Dangerous Tobacco Product
Each of us, as human beings, has a specific life plan and approach based on our personal circumstances, aimed at self-purification and refinement. There is everything in the world, but God has given humans a power called Aql (عقل) to discern what to use and what to avoid [Aql is an Arabic term used in Islamic philosophy for the intellect or the rational faculty]. The existence of everything in life is necessary. If human beings don’t use something properly, we shouldn't ask why God created it. Life without tools like knives is impossible; yet misuse can make them deadly. It is like The existence of Satan whose presence is necessary in life, but we should resist obeying him. Opium is essential and necessary for life, but human misuse has given this healing substance a bad reputation. Water is the essence of life, but many drown in it.
All of God’s creations are made for human use; it depends on how we use them. Some people use these resources wisely and rise to higher levels, while others misuse them and descend. This principle also applies to members of Congress 60. Someone who joins and undergoes the journey properly will reach their destination—freedom and inner peace—sooner. But if they do not follow the proper path and attend merely out of habit or obligation, they may never arrive, or if they do, it will take much longer. For every issue, we must first identify its core problem before we can solve it. Without identifying the root of a problem, we are incapable of finding a solution. This also holds true for cigarettes and other drugs. After suffering a heart attack, Mr. Dezhakam came to realize the severe harms of smoking. Cigarettes are an extremely dangerous tobacco product, containing over 4,000 types of toxins. The death toll from cigarettes far exceeds that of earthquakes, floods, car accidents, suicides, murders, diseases, drug abuse, and more.
One of the most vital organs in our body is the lungs. Inside the lungs are tiny air sacs called alveoli, absorb oxygen and transfer it into the bloodstream. These structures function as sweepers which clean the lungs. In smokers, the lungs become blackened like tar, preventing adequate oxygen from reaching the cells and significantly weakening the immune system. The body then becomes vulnerable and incapable of defending itself properly against diseases. Smokers tend to have weak immune systems and are prone to heart disease. This raises the question: Why can’t smokers simply quit? The answer lies in a replacement mechanism, similar to drug addiction. Both the body and cigarettes contain nicotine. When someone smokes, their body stops producing its own nicotine and becomes dependent on external nicotine from cigarettes.
Congress 60 has developed a method for smoking cessation, which typically takes about 10 to 11 months. Instead of smoking, individuals may use nicotine gum, patches, or tablets. Nicotine gum is the closest substitute to cigarettes in terms of nicotine absorption, and just like smoking, it does not require a specific time for use. There are no dietary restrictions during this treatment. But if someone wants to quit smoking, they must first reach a state of awareness—recognizing how harmful smoking truly is. Every day, they are willingly poisoning their own body. Unless their worldview is corrected, they cannot successfully quit smoking. This process requires awakening and understanding. Just as addiction to cigarettes occurred gradually, the path to quitting must also be slow and steady.
From Mr. Dezhakam’s viewpoint, an individual who has overcome drug addiction but continues to smoke is still classified as an addict and is therefore ineligible for any service responsibilities within Congress 60. In the “Cigarette and Replacement ” CD, Mr. Dezhakam states: “There was a time I used to say that the number of paths to reach God equals the number of people, but now I say there is only one path to reach God, and that is the Straight Path (صراط المستقیم). Whoever walks this path will reach God, and whoever doesn’t, will not.
Source: CD "Cigarette and Replacement Therapy"
Author and News Liaison: Companion Nahid, student of Companion Maryam (Legion 15)
Editing & Submission: Companion Zahra, student of Companion Fahimeh (Legion 6), Guardian for the Companion Site – Shahr-e-Rey Branch
Translated by companion Samira, Sheikhbahaei branch of Congress 60
https://congress60.org/News/388299/%D8%B3%DB%8C%DA%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D8%AF%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AE%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%A7%DA%A9-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA