The Ruling on Smoking and Unpleasant Odors in Prayer

Question:
In his second question, he says: There are people who pray while having unpleasant odors on them, such as smoke, or their clothes contain some oils. He asks the Honorable Shaykh for the legal ruling on smoking.

Answer:
It is disliked for a person to pray or enter the mosque with strong odors, or to pray in congregation with strong odors, until he works to remove them as much as he can. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) likened the one who eats garlic or onions to the one who prays in the mosque, saying: "Let not our one who prays [bother us]; let him sit in his house." As for smoke, it is forbidden; there is no doubt in that. This is because it has now been established among Muslims and non-Muslims that it is harmful to health, that it causes many diseases, that it has a foul smell, a foul taste, that it harms those around it, and that it wastes money without benefit. All these reasons indicate its prohibition, for even if one of these reasons stood alone, it would indicate its prohibition. How much more so when they are all present? So there is no doubt about the prohibition of smoking, especially after it has been established by doctors now that it is harmful to health. Yes. The reports that state it causes cancer in the body—yes, this is among the diseases caused by smoking, and it is a serious disease. This is what indicates its prohibition. Allah the Exalted said: "And do not throw your own hands into destruction." And Allah, Glorious and Exalted is He, said in describing His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): There is no doubt that smoke is foul in all respects, so it is forbidden. And the one who argues against its prohibition is in the category of stubbornness, especially after the World Health Organizations have announced its harm, and even ordered those who produce it to write on its packaging: "Harmful to health." After this, is there any excuse for one who sees smoking as permissible and is lax about it? Yes. May Allah reward you.