It is no secret that the forbidden habit of
smoking is widespread, in the workplace, in the home and in public areas. The question is,
is it permissible to sit with smokers? If a person is sitting with a smoker in his home or
in a public gathering, should he leave him and go out?
Praise be to Allaah.
As the brother has mentioned, smoking is haraam because
of the general evidence that indicates that it is haraam. There is no specific text from
the Messenger SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), because smoking only
emerged recently, but the principles of sharee’ah are general in application, and
some indications in some reports indicate that it is haraam. If a smoker sits next to you
and wants to smoke, then advise him gently and kindly. Tell him, “My brother, this is
haraam, and it is not permissible for you.”
I think that if you advise him kindly and gently, he will refrain from
smoking, as we and others have found out by experience. If he does not refrain from
smoking, then you have to leave him, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this
Qur’aan) that when you hear the Verses of Allaah being denied and mocked at, then sit
not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them)
certainly in that case you would be like them…” [al-Nisa’ 4:140]
But this is when it is in a public place. If it is in the workplace
and you advise him but he does not refrain, then there is no sin on you, because this is
the matter of necessity and you could not get away from him.
