The Ruling on Wealth Acquired from Selling Tobacco After Repenting from Selling It

Question:
I was engaged in selling tobacco. Is the wealth I accumulated lawful or not, knowing that I have quit it, praise be to Allah?

Answer:
Repentance, my brother, covers what came before it. If you were selling tobacco, or any other of the forbidden things, and then you quit it, then praise Allah for that and commit yourself to repentance.
As for the wealth that came to you before you knew, or before the knowledge became settled in you, we hope there is no blame on you for what you consumed from it and what came from it. As for the remainder that is currently with you, the most cautious course for you is to give it in charity and distribute it to channels of righteousness, and to live on other means. This is what you should do, because it is earnings obtained by a means other than the Shari'ah, and because the matter of tobacco is known to you and to others. You hear from the words of the scholars what indicates to you that it is wrong, or that there is a doubt about it, but you were lax.
So you must remove what is in your hand of this wealth by spending it in channels of good and righteousness. If you are in dire necessity for it, and you did not know of its prohibition until you repented from it, we hope there is no harm on you regarding it if you are poor, or if you have already consumed it, so that you do not have to pay it back. This is based on the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), when He mentioned usury or interest: [al-Baqarah: 275]. If you did not know until the time of repentance, we hope that what has passed is forgiven for you. But if you distribute it in channels of righteousness, if you have any of it remaining, that is more cautious, further from evil, and clears your conscience.