Shaikh Ibn ul-‘Uthaymeen rahimahullah was asked:
Question: If we know that the one asking for money asks in order to purchase cigarettes to smoke. What is the ruling?
To which the Shaikh rahimahullah answered: “We give him in food”.
He explained that voluntary charity does not have to be given in money in the first place and it can be given in anything that benefits the one in need etc. fruits. So if a person is giving voluntary charity and this poor person wants to buy cigarettes, then it is allowed to give him food that will benefit instead, or clothing, or what he needs. That is better than giving him dirhams (money)
[See: Sharh Bulugh al-Maram Kitab Zakat no. 11]
Translator’s Note:
Shaikh Ibn ul-‘Uthaymeen rahimahullah said elsewhere:
“…if a person is in need to smoke and he requests you to help him by paying its price or buying it for him or the likes of that, then it is not allowed for you to aid him. Even if he is in need. Even if you see him in hardship and in need of smoking. So do not aid him due to Allah’s statement:
ولا تعاونوا على الإثم والعدوان
Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression.
[5:2]
Even if it is your father. For verily you do not aid him in this even if he gets angry at you if you do not bring him it. So let him get angry because his anger is in the wrong place. Rather, if you prevent from giving your father what will harm him, you are righteous to him and not disobedient. This is because this is Ihsaan and the greatest Ihsaan is to prevent your father from what will harm him”.
[Sharh Riyaadus-Saliheen (1/283)]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
