Ruling on praying behind someone who smokes

Smoking is haraam, and
there is no doubt about that among the scholars. It is harmful and there is
no doubt about that among doctors and those who are wise. If the imam of a
mosque does this deed, this is regarded as committing sin openly, and some
scholars say that people should not pray behind him; the correct view is
that it is permissible, but someone else who is of good character is
better. 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn
Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: 

What is the ruling on
smoking, and the ruling on people who do that openly leading prayers? 

He replied: 

The shar’i evidence
indicates that smoking is something which is forbidden, because it involves
many evils and harmful effects, and Allaah has only permitted to His slaves
food and drink which are good and beneficial. As for that which will harm
their spiritual or worldly interests or alter their minds, Allaah has
forbidden it to them, and He is more merciful towards them than their own
selves, and He is All-Wise and All-Knowing in His words, deeds, laws and
decrees. He does not forbid anything in jest or create anything in vain, and
He does not enjoin anything that is not of benefit to His slaves, because He
is the wisest of the wise and the most Merciful of those who show mercy, and
He knows what is in the best interests of His slaves and will benefit them
in this world and in the Hereafter, as He says (interpretation of the
meaning): 

“Certainly your Lord is
All‑Wise, All‑Knowing”

[al-An’aam 6:83]

“Verily, Allaah is Ever
All‑Knowing, All‑Wise”

[al-Insaan 76:30]

And there are many similar
verses. 

Among the Qur’aanic
evidence that smoking is haraam is the verse in Soorat al-Maa’idah in which
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“They ask you (O
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him)) what is lawful for them (as food). Say:
Lawful unto you are At‑Tayyibaat [all kinds of Halaal (lawful‑good) foods
which Allaah has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk
products, fats, vegetables and fruits)]”

[al-Maa’idah 5:4]

And He says in Soorat
al-A’raaf, describing our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him): 

“he commands them for
Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained); and
forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and
all that Islam has forbidden); he allows them as lawful At‑Tayyibaat (i.e.
all good and lawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons and foods),
and prohibits them as unlawful Al‑Khabaa’ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as
regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons and foods)”

[al-A’raaf 7:157]

In these two verses, Allaah
explains that He has only permitted to His slaves things that are good and
lawful (al-tayyibaat), which refers to beneficial foods and drinks. As for
harmful foods and drinks, such as intoxicants, drugs and all kinds of foods
and drinks which cause spiritual or physical or mental harm, they are among
the evil and unlawful things (al-khabaa’ith) that are forbidden. Doctors and
others who are wise are unanimously agreed that smoking is something that
causes a great deal of harm. They have stated that it causes many diseases
such as cancer, stroke, etc. Anything that is of this nature is undoubtedly
haraam and must be avoided. No wise man should be deceived by the fact that
there are many people who smoke. Allaah says in His Book (interpretation of
the meaning): 

“And if you obey most of
those on the earth, they will mislead you far away from Allaah’s path. They
follow nothing but conjectures, and they do nothing but lie”

[al-An’aam 6:116] 

“Or do you think that
most of them hear or understand? They are only like cattle _ nay, they
are even farther astray from the Path (i.e. even worse than cattle)”

[al-Furqaan 25:44]

With regard to smokers or
other sinners leading the prayer: such people should not be appointed as
imams, rather what is prescribed is to choose the best of the Muslims to
lead the prayers, those who are known for their religious commitment and
righteousness, because leading the prayers is something important. Hence the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Let the
people be led in prayer by the one who has most knowledge of the Qur’aan. If
they are equal in terms of knowledge of the Qur’aan, then let them be led by
the one who has most knowledge of the Sunnah. If they are equal in terms of
knowledge of the Sunnah, then let them be led by the one who migrated first.
If they are equal in terms of migration, then let them be led by the one who
become Muslim first.” Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh. In
al-Saheehayn it is also narrated that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to Maalik ibn al-Huwayrith and his
companions: “When the time for prayer comes, let one of you give the call to
prayer and let the oldest of you lead you in prayer.” 

The scholars differed as to
whether it is valid for a sinner to lead the prayer and whether prayers
offered behind him are valid. Some of them said that a prayer offered behind
him is not valid, because his religious commitment is weak and his faith is
lacking. Other scholars said that it is valid for him to lead the prayer and
prayers offered behind him are valid, because he is a Muslim whose prayer is
valid in and of itself, so prayers offered behind him are valid, because
many of the Sahaabah prayed behind some rulers who were known to be
wrongdoers and evildoers, such as Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him)
who prayed behind al-Hajjaaj who was one of the greatest wrongdoers. This is
the correct view, which is that his prayers are valid, as are the prayers of
those who pray behind him. But he should not be appointed as an imam when it
is possible to appoint someone else who is good and righteous. 

Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn
Baaz (12/123-127). 

The Shaykh (may Allaah have
mercy on him) was also asked: 

What is the ruling on
praying behind sinners such as those who shave their beards or smoke? 

He replied: 

The scholars differed
concerning this issue. Some are of the view that it is not valid to pray
behind a sinner, because he is weak in faith and not trustworthy. But a
large number of scholars are of the view that it is valid, but those who are
in authority should not appoint sinners to lead the people in prayer when
there are other people available. This is the correct view, because he is a
Muslim who knows that prayer is obligatory upon him and he does it on that
basis. So it is valid to pray behind him. The evidence for that is the
report in the saheeh hadeeth, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said concerning prayer behind immoral rulers: “They lead
you in prayer and if they do good then it will be for you and for them, but
if they do evil then it will be for you and against them.” Narrated by
al-Bukhaari in al-Adhaan (662). And there are other ahaadeeth in
which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said
something similar. And some of the Sahaabah prayed behind al-Hajjaaj even
though he was among the most evil of people, and because prayer in
congregation is essential, so the believer should be keen to do it and to
pray in congregation regularly even if the imam is an evildoer. But if it is
possible to pray behind an imam of good character, then that is better and
is preferable, and is more on the safe side with regard to religious
commitment.  

Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn
Baaz (6/400). 

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih
al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

Prayer offered behind a
smoker is valid, and the prayer of the smoker is valid. If a person’s prayer
is valid then it is valid for him to lead the prayer, because the point is
that he is leading you in prayer and that can only be valid if his own
prayer is valid. Hence if you find someone who smokes or shaves his beard or
deals in riba etc, there is nothing wrong with your praying with him, and
your prayer is valid. 

Majmoo’ Fataawa
al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (15/question no. 1003) 

Ends.