The Ruling on Choosing Companions for Hajj and Smoking While in Ihram

Question : Is it obligatory for a person who intends to perform Hajj to choose companions in whom he trusts their knowledge and religion? And does he commit a sin if he performs Hajj with people who smoke, backbite, and do other such things? And is smoking considered among the open sinfulness (fisq) mentioned in the saying of Allah the Exalted: ?

Answer : There is no doubt that it is wisdom and intellect for a person to choose companions who possess knowledge and religion. For the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The example of a good companion is like a carrier of musk: either he sells it to you, or he gives you some of it, or you find a pleasant scent from him."
This is especially true in a journey of obedience, such as the journey of Hajj, for a person needs to be with a student of knowledge to whom he can turn when he faces a difficulty, and the student of knowledge guides him at the sacred sites. However, there is no blame on him if he performs Hajj with people who do not meet this standard, provided that they do not commit a forbidden act during their journey. If they commit a forbidden act, then their companionship becomes forbidden for the one who wishes to prevent them from it. So, if you accompany a group that plays forbidden music or smokes, that is forbidden for them. Unless you are able to prevent them from it, in which case there is no harm, because you gain the reward of preventing them from the forbidden and their companionship. As for the second question, which is whether smoking while in the state of ihram is among the open sinfulness (fisq) that Allah prohibited in His saying: , the answer is that we say: Yes, smoking is among open sinfulness (fisq). The person in ihram who smokes has not obeyed the ruling of Allah the Mighty and Majestic, because he has committed open sinfulness (fisq) in his smoking. If he persists in smoking, it makes smoking an act of open sinfulness (fisq). Likewise, if a person is afflicted with people who backbite others and mock them, it is not permissible for him to accompany them unless, as I said first, he is able to prevent them from it.