Does Smoking Invalidate Wudu’? - Ablution - counsels - OnIslam.net

Does Smoking Invalidate Wudu’? - Ablution - counsels - OnIslam.net

As-salamu `alaykum. One of my friends suggested that my namaz (prayer) is not valid because I smoked cigarette; he told that I have to make wudu’ again. What do you think of that?
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Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Brother, we do really commend your question as it reflects your concern about the teachings of Islam.
Let us seize the opportunity to advise and, even, warn you and every Muslim smoker against smoking, which is declared by Muslim scholars as sinful.
As for your question, smoking does not invalidate the ablution (wudu’), but you have to avoid going to the mosque having the bad odor of smoking in order not to harm your Muslim brothers and sisters and even the angels.
Responding to your question, the eminent Muslim scholar, Dr. `Abdel-Fattah Idrees, Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University, stated,

Smoking does not invalidate the ablution (wudu’). However, it is not recommended that the one who smokes cigarettes to stay in the mosque, as, by doing this, he would harm people and angels.

This is in analogy to what was narrated that the Prophet (pace and blessings be upon him) ordered those who had eaten onions or garlic not to come to mosques in order not to harm people with the bad odor of smoking.

It was narrated by Jabir bin `Abdullah that the Prophet (pace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever has eaten garlic or onion should keep away from us (or should keep away from our mosque).” (Al-Bukhari)

It was also narrated by Ibn `Umar, “During the holy battle of Khaybar the Prophet (pace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Whoever ate from this plant (i.e. garlic) should not enter our mosque’." (Al-Bukhari)

Though these kinds of foods are legal (halal), it is not acceptable from anyone who had eaten them to come to the mosque. Therefore, it is crystal clear that one should not cause any harm to others.

So, though smoking does not invalidate ablution, a Muslim smoker is highly recommended to remove the smoking odor from his mouth before going to the mosque.

Allah Almighty knows best.