What is the ruling on sitting with those who smoke in order to forbid them?
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The questioner : Some of the callers sit in front of the smoker... they want to call him to Allah, but he is still smoking and he cannot say to him, "Put out the cigarette," because if he said to him, "Put out the cigarette"...?
The Shaykh : A person wants to forbid another person from a wrong, and that person is engaged in it, and he remains with him for a period of time. Let us suppose it is songs, or smoke as I said, or gambling... So do we say there is no harm in sitting while you hate this thing, in order to reconcile this man and call him gently, or do you directly forbid the evil? I am actually hesitant on this, but one looks at the man's situation. If this man is his relative, there is no harm. But if he is known for confrontation, and it is heard that he advises but does not comply, then you do not sit with him at all.
The questioner : ... meaning, smoke harms the person...
The Shaykh : Yes, smoke harms him.
The questioner : Does he count it as a reward with Allah?
The Shaykh : He counts it as a reward with Allah.
The Shaykh : A person wants to forbid another person from a wrong, and that person is engaged in it, and he remains with him for a period of time. Let us suppose it is songs, or smoke as I said, or gambling... So do we say there is no harm in sitting while you hate this thing, in order to reconcile this man and call him gently, or do you directly forbid the evil? I am actually hesitant on this, but one looks at the man's situation. If this man is his relative, there is no harm. But if he is known for confrontation, and it is heard that he advises but does not comply, then you do not sit with him at all.
The questioner : ... meaning, smoke harms the person...
The Shaykh : Yes, smoke harms him.
The questioner : Does he count it as a reward with Allah?
The Shaykh : He counts it as a reward with Allah.