Is it permissible for the Imam to lead people in prayer while he is smoking?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
One should not pray behind a smoker if someone better is available. However, if no one better is available, or if one prays behind him while he is smoking, the prayer is valid. The majority of scholars hold that praying behind a fasiq (transgressor) is valid, and that whoever prays behind him is not commanded to repeat the prayer, due to the general statement of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Pray behind whoever says 'there is no god but Allah'."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/12904
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 12904
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy