A man addicted to smoking who is eager to quit has sworn by divorce that he will never return to it, but then he returned to it while forgetting. What is obligatory?

The questioner : He says in it: I am a married man, and I used to smoke a lot. Out of my desire to quit it completely, I swore by divorce that I would never return to smoking it. In fact, I did abstain from it for a long period, but one day I was sitting with some friends and I did not realize I was smoking until I noticed it and remembered that I had sworn by divorce to leave it. I asked about this and was told that I only owe an expiation. Because I am uncertain about the number of divorces at that time, I have been afflicted with anxiety and doubt about remaining with my wife after what happened. However, I am still holding onto her, and our life is very normal. I ask for guidance on what is obligatory for me regarding the divorce. May Allah reward you with good?

The Shaykh : The divorce that occurred from you, as the mufti ruled for you, its ruling is the ruling of an oath, and you owe an expiation for an oath. But I advise you regarding two matters. The first matter is that you should make your tongue accustomed to swearing by divorce, for this is contrary to what is prescribed. It is not befitting for a person to habituate himself to swearing by divorce .
As for the second matter, I advise you against returning to smoking, because smoking is forbidden by evidence from the Book and the Sunnah. I do not mean by evidence here the specific evidence that mentions this tobacco, which is the... because that only happened recently. But in the texts of the Book and the Sunnah, there are general, comprehensive words that cover what happens until the Day of Resurrection. Among the texts indicating its prohibition is the saying of Allah the Exalted: . It is known that this drink, which I mean tobacco, is a cause of many stubborn diseases that may lead a person to death, as confirmed by the great doctors. Among them is the saying of Allah the Exalted: . The way this indicates the ruling is like the first verse. And among them is the saying of Allah the Exalted: . So Allah the Exalted forbade us to give the foolish, who do not manage money well, their wealth. He clarified that Allah made this wealth a means of sustenance for people, by which their religious and worldly interests are established. It is known that tobacco has no benefit, neither in religion nor in the world, but rather it has harm.
As for the Sunnah, its prohibition is deduced from what is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the prohibition of wasting money. Wasting money is spending it on what has no benefit, neither in this world nor in the Hereafter. Tobacco has no benefit, neither in this world nor in the Hereafter. So spending money on it is a waste, and spending money on it is a waste of money.
And among the evidences from the Sunnah is also the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): . Although there is discussion regarding this hadith, the principles of the Shari'ah support it. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) negated harm and harming others, and this negation is a prohibition against a person practicing what involves harm or what involves harming others. And thus we ask: Is there harm in tobacco or not? The answer, on the tongue of doctors, is that there is harm. And thus it falls under the prohibition mentioned in this hadith.
These are the evidences for the prohibition of tobacco in terms of its effect. As for in terms of reasoning, the smoker finds physical acts of worship burdensome, especially those involving abstaining from food and drink, such as fasting. Fasting is one of the heaviest things for a smoker because it prevents him from consuming it during the day, so he finds great hardship and great heaviness in this act of worship. Similarly, prayer sometimes becomes heavy for him; if the time for prayer comes and he is craving tobacco, he will find this prayer burdensome and wait impatiently for it to end. This is undoubtedly affecting the servant in his journey to his Lord, Mighty and Majestic. So my advice to you, my brother, and to our Muslim brothers in general, is to avoid smoking. It is not difficult for a person to leave it if he is sincere in his determination and turns to his Lord by seeking His help, Blessed and Exalted is He, and asking Him for deliverance from it, and by staying away from sitting with those who smoke. This is why you returned to smoking when you sat with those who smoke it. Staying away from the gatherings of those who smoke is one of the greatest aids in holding fast to leaving it. And the most important thing is sincerity in determination and intention, and sincerity to Allah, and seeking His help, Exalted is He. For all of this helps a person to leave it. And we have seen people whom Allah granted the blessing of leaving it, and their health, strength, and vitality returned to them, and they praised the outcome. Yes.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.
This is a message from the listener Yahya Musa Yahya from Sudan.