Smoking while fasting


Question:  Asalamu alaikum. We know that smoking a cigarette breaks the fast but would it require kaffarah? Or only qada?

Answer:
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

Assalam’aleykum,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Yes, smoking does break the fast and requires an expiation (kaffara).


THINGS THAT MAKE BOTH MAKEUP AND EXPIATION NECESSARY (WAJIB)

Intentionally eating, drinking, or breaking the fast in any other manner, such as smoking, without a valid reason (that is, deliberately, while aware) will make both qada and kaffara necessary (unless there is a legal excuse that wards off the necessity of expiation, such as it not being a complete offense, such as in the case of ejaculation through any means other than actual intercourse).

Please note that the position of the Shafi’i school on this matter is that kaffara is not required for anything other than actual sexual intercourse.

Scholars agree that smoking is something Allah does not like and wastes money, life, and health.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam

[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani