Is it permissible for a person who is praying next to a man with a foul smell, such as the smell of smoke, to leave his prayer and move to another place?
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The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Your Eminence, I am from the people of Madinah and I prayed in the Haram. A man came to pray next to me, and he had missed a rak'ah.
The Shaykh : He had missed a rak'ah?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And I had not missed even a single rak'ah. This masbuq (one who joins the prayer late) had a foul smell due to his smoking.
The Shaykh : And what is it?
The questioner : His smell was the smell of smoke.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : A smoker.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So when he came next to me, I left the prayer and moved to another row. Is this permissible?
The Shaykh : If a man with a foul smell prays next to you, whether from smoke, or from a bad odor in his body, or from onions, garlic, or something else, then if you are able to perform your prayer with tranquility and comfort, it is not permissible for you to leave it, because once a person enters the obligatory prayer, it is forbidden for him to leave it except for a necessity. However, if you cannot bear it and are unable to continue, and you fear that you might feel dizzy or vomit, or at least that it will disturb your prayer, then there is no harm in leaving that place for another place free of it. Do you understand?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Very well.
The questioner : Your Eminence, I am from the people of Madinah and I prayed in the Haram. A man came to pray next to me, and he had missed a rak'ah.
The Shaykh : He had missed a rak'ah?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And I had not missed even a single rak'ah. This masbuq (one who joins the prayer late) had a foul smell due to his smoking.
The Shaykh : And what is it?
The questioner : His smell was the smell of smoke.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : A smoker.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So when he came next to me, I left the prayer and moved to another row. Is this permissible?
The Shaykh : If a man with a foul smell prays next to you, whether from smoke, or from a bad odor in his body, or from onions, garlic, or something else, then if you are able to perform your prayer with tranquility and comfort, it is not permissible for you to leave it, because once a person enters the obligatory prayer, it is forbidden for him to leave it except for a necessity. However, if you cannot bear it and are unable to continue, and you fear that you might feel dizzy or vomit, or at least that it will disturb your prayer, then there is no harm in leaving that place for another place free of it. Do you understand?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Very well.