A young man prays but smokes, then repents, then returns to it many times; what should he do?
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The questioner : May the Shaykh be respected, I am a young man who prays all the prayers, but I smoke. After I smoke, I repent, then I return to it, then I repent, then I return to it many times. However, I fear the punishment of Allah, so what should I do? May Allah reward you with good. I ask you to pray for me that I may leave it and that I may be among the righteous and those who reform.
The Shaykh : Yes, I ask Allah to help him leave it and to make us and him among the righteous. I say: strive to be strong, to be strong against your own self, and stay away from those who smoke, because being near them leads to you craving it and smoking it. So stay away from them, burn any tobacco you have, and ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for steadfastness in being protected from it. Whenever your soul urges you to smoke, drink a juice instead to alleviate it, or if you fear that your soul will persist in urging you, go out to one of the righteous men to sit with him and benefit from him. The righteous companion is like a carrier of musk: either he sells it to you, or he gives you some for free, or you find a pleasant scent from him.
The Shaykh : Yes, I ask Allah to help him leave it and to make us and him among the righteous. I say: strive to be strong, to be strong against your own self, and stay away from those who smoke, because being near them leads to you craving it and smoking it. So stay away from them, burn any tobacco you have, and ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for steadfastness in being protected from it. Whenever your soul urges you to smoke, drink a juice instead to alleviate it, or if you fear that your soul will persist in urging you, go out to one of the righteous men to sit with him and benefit from him. The righteous companion is like a carrier of musk: either he sells it to you, or he gives you some for free, or you find a pleasant scent from him.