If the one committing a sin remains in that state for a long time, such as shaving the beard, is it not permissible to greet him with the salam?

The questioner : The sin one is involved in is that I should not greet him if he shaves his beard. He might sit for days, a whole week, while involved in it, for a whole week.

The Shaykh : No, being involved in shaving the beard is only when the razor is on the beard. But if he leaves...

The questioner : But once, I mean, think between us. No, no.

The Shaykh : Even smoking, when it is finished, its smell remains.

The questioner : But who said this?

The Shaykh : And this is not what we mean by shaving his beard. We say this is one who has shaved his beard, but we do not say he is shaving his beard right now.

The questioner : But it is finished.

The Shaykh : And this is also the case with its smell and his teeth. If he has quit smoking, from the day he quits, the smoke comes out of his mouth.

The questioner : Perhaps he washes his clothes and such.

The Shaykh : In any case, there is a difference between the effects of a sin and the act of the sin. The one who has shaved is said to have the effect of his shaving, not the shaving itself. Likewise, the smoker, his smell is like that, and his teeth.