A: Smoking is one of the prohibited acts. It is of the evil things that Allah has prohibited, for the much harm it causes. The evidence supporting its prohibition is the following Ayah (Qur'anic verse) in which Allah (Exalted be He) says:
They ask you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) what is lawful for them (as food). Say: "Lawful unto you are AtTayyibât [all kind of Halâl (lawfulgood) foods which Allâh has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits)].
Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) further describes His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), by saying: he allows them as lawful AtTayyibât (i.e. all good and lawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods), and prohibits them as unlawful AlKhabâ'ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons and foods)
Scholars explain the word "AtTayyibat" to mean the useful and safe foods and drinks. It is known that smoking lacks this quality, for it is one of the abominable and prohibited harmful things. Smoking is even worse than shaving the beard in some aspects and lighter in some others. This is because shaving the beard is a sin that is seen publicly and the Prophet (peace be upon him) has ordered Muslims to let the beard grow and become thick and to trim and clip the moustache.
As for smoking, it may be hidden from people, so it is not the same as shaving the beard. Yet, it is more harmful to body and mind, and a means of wasting money. Furthermore, its harm not only affects the person who smokes, but also those who are exposed to its toxic odor. Generally, smoking and shaving the beard are both abominable sins that affect the society as a whole and cause evil consequences. They openly oppose the Shari`ah (Islamic law), not to mention their negative effects on the economy. It should be noted that a smoker sets a bad example for his family and friends who may imitate such a sin.