What is the validity of the prayer of one who smokes?
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Question:
What is the ruling in Islam regarding one who smokes and prays in the mosque?
Answer:
Smoking is forbidden because it is harmful and causes serious diseases. Also, smoking harms people with its smell and stench; it harms everyone who comes near the smoker or sits with him, suffering from the foul, suffocating smell, and it may damage their health. It is also harmful and forbidden because it is a waste of money without any benefit. Smoking has no benefit whatsoever, not even a small percentage; it has no aspect or part of benefit, not even one in a thousand. It is pure harm, and whatever is pure harm is undoubtedly forbidden. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said in describing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):[Al-A'raf 7:157].
And He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:[Al-Baqarah 2:195]. He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: [An-Nisa 4:29]. He, the Exalted, said: [Al-A'raf 7:31]. He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: [Al-Furqan 25:67].
All these verses apply to smoking, for it is harmful, it is a waste of money without benefit, and it is foul. All these ugly qualities are found in smoking. If Allah did not deprive people of their minds so that they smoke, no sane person would smoke it. But as the poet says, a person is overcome in the days of his tribulation until he sees as good what is not good. Those who smoke, in reality, do not have minds to think with; they completely abandon their minds. Otherwise, if they thought even a little, they would not proceed to smoke, because they admit that it is repulsive, that it is foul, and that it is a waste of money without benefit. They admit this, but the rule of blind restriction and bad habits drags a person to consequences that are not to be praised.
As for the prayer, it is obligatory upon him, and his prayer is valid, so he is rewarded for it. But he sins by smoking. Smoking is a disobedience for which he deserves punishment, unless he repents to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. As for his prayer, it is valid, and he is rewarded for it because he is a Muslim. Even if he is a sinner, he is a Muslim. He has what Muslims have, and he is bound by what Muslims are bound by. But he is a Muslim who sins, exposed to punishment, unless he repents to Allah and leaves smoking.
What is the ruling in Islam regarding one who smokes and prays in the mosque?
Answer:
Smoking is forbidden because it is harmful and causes serious diseases. Also, smoking harms people with its smell and stench; it harms everyone who comes near the smoker or sits with him, suffering from the foul, suffocating smell, and it may damage their health. It is also harmful and forbidden because it is a waste of money without any benefit. Smoking has no benefit whatsoever, not even a small percentage; it has no aspect or part of benefit, not even one in a thousand. It is pure harm, and whatever is pure harm is undoubtedly forbidden. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said in describing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil
وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَAnd He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:
and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]
وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِAnd do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful.
وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًاand eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَAnd [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَنفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ قَوَامًاAll these verses apply to smoking, for it is harmful, it is a waste of money without benefit, and it is foul. All these ugly qualities are found in smoking. If Allah did not deprive people of their minds so that they smoke, no sane person would smoke it. But as the poet says, a person is overcome in the days of his tribulation until he sees as good what is not good. Those who smoke, in reality, do not have minds to think with; they completely abandon their minds. Otherwise, if they thought even a little, they would not proceed to smoke, because they admit that it is repulsive, that it is foul, and that it is a waste of money without benefit. They admit this, but the rule of blind restriction and bad habits drags a person to consequences that are not to be praised.
As for the prayer, it is obligatory upon him, and his prayer is valid, so he is rewarded for it. But he sins by smoking. Smoking is a disobedience for which he deserves punishment, unless he repents to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. As for his prayer, it is valid, and he is rewarded for it because he is a Muslim. Even if he is a sinner, he is a Muslim. He has what Muslims have, and he is bound by what Muslims are bound by. But he is a Muslim who sins, exposed to punishment, unless he repents to Allah and leaves smoking.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما صحة صلاة من يشرب الدخان؟ الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.