We do commend and admire the deep understanding of the realities of the Muslim world and the astuteness of the Shaykh of al-Azhar. We also stress the fact that not only does this fatwa prevent the massacre of the innocent Muslims, but it will also be a hindrance to the Islamophobia which is being promoted by the westerners, who are either unaware of the reality of Islam or are enemies of Islam. 

One of the Arabic TV channels based in England has been fundraising, for a few months now, for the production of a feature film called ''Yawm al-Adhāb'' [i.e. The Day of Torment] and it has received millions of pounds from the Shias all over the world.

It has been spread among people that a person who observes Fast can drink water and his fast won’t be void. A Hadith has been mentioned for this which is disputable in both documentation and implication.

In the name of God

I had declared this decree several years ago conditionally, and it has been registered in my book, Rulings of Taqlid, that if based o­n the approval of the experts, smoking cigar (and other tobacco products) is harmful for health, it is forbidden.