FatwaSelangorPrayer (Salah)
#44 Taudhih Al-Hukmi : Hukum Seorang Perokok Menjadi Imam
Is it valid to pray behind an imam who smokes, and what is the ruling?
Short answer
Smoking has been declared forbidden, so a person who persistently smokes is classed as a fasiq.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Selangor State Mufti Department
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Taudhih Al-Hukmi (artikel penjelasan, bukan pendirian rasmi Mufti Selangor)
- Topic
- Prayer (Salah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Smoking has been declared forbidden, so a person who persistently smokes is classed as a fasiq. Prayer behind a smoker imam remains valid if the conditions and pillars of prayer are met, but it is makruh, and an upright imam is preferred even if the fasiq is better in knowledge and recitation. This view relies on Imam Nawawi and the practice of Ibn Umar RA, who prayed behind the fasiq al-Hajjaj. An imam is encouraged to be learned, fluent, pious and wara'.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Bahkan, makruh jika solat itu diimamkan oleh seorang fasiq, dan begitu juga solat di belakang orang yang mubtadi' yang bukan dikafirkan dengan bid'ahnya.
Read the full fatwa on the Selangor website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Selangor State Mufti Department. “#44 Taudhih Al-Hukmi : Hukum Seorang Perokok Menjadi Imam”, 20 March 2024. https://www.muftiselangor.gov.my/2024/03/20/43-taudhih-al-hukmi-hukum-seorang-perokok-menjadi-imam/. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-prayer-behind-smoker-imam/