A man sits with young people to advise them, and one of them has a cigarette in his mouth. Should he continue advising them while that young man is smoking in front of him, or should he leave them and go?

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. We visited some young people on the sidewalk and spoke with them and reminded them, but one of them continued smoking and did not put out the cigarette. What should be done? Also, is it permissible for me to say to a person who was sitting with me, whom I reminded and sensed wanted to smoke, "Go, then come back"?

The Shaykh : I say: Your work of going around the sidewalks, as you mentioned, to call the youth is a good deed, and you will be rewarded for it. If they respond to you, the grace is from Allah for everyone. If they do not respond to you, you have fulfilled what is obligatory upon you. If you sit with them and speak to them with calmness and gentleness, I think, and Allah knows best, that no one will step forward to commit a sin in front of you, even if the only thing stopping him is modesty and shyness. But if it is assumed that some of them insist on committing a sin, then leave and contact that specific person again, just him, and warn him and admonish him, so that perhaps Allah will guide him.
Likewise, if you have a companion with you and you see him preparing to commit a sin, advise him and warn him of Allah. Do not despair; the one who does not get guided this time may get guided the next time. Yes, after that.

The questioner : Your Eminence, there is a man asking.

The Shaykh : Yes.