Ruling on a smoker leading prayers

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
As-Salaamu-Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
Is it permissible for a person who is a smoker to lead people in prayer?
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Check below answers in case you are looking for other related questions:
It is makrooh for the imam to single himself out in joint supplication to the exclusion of the people praying behind him
The imam’s pronunciation is defective, and some of the members of the congregation are hiding the fact that they have more knowledge of Qur’aan

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

People should not pray behind a smoker if a better person can be found to lead the prayers. If no one better can be found, or you come and pray behind him and he is still a smoker, the prayer is still valid, in sha Allaah. The majority of scholars stated that prayer behind a faasiq (rebellious evildoer) is still valid, and if a person prays behind him he should not be told to repeat the prayer, because of the general meaning of the hadeeth: “Pray behind the one who says Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah.” (Narrated by Abu Na’eem, 1/320; al-Daaraqutni, 2/56).

 And Allaah knows best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in Islam

Related Answers:
Should he pray behind one who did not wash his hands again when he washed his arms in wudoo’?
Advice to an imaam who shaves his beard
If the imam breaks his wudoo’ or remembers that he broke his wudoo’ whilst praying, it is permissible for him to appoint someone to lead the prayer for him
It is makrooh for the imam to single himself out in joint supplication to the exclusion of the people praying behind him
The imam’s pronunciation is defective, and some of the members of the congregation are hiding the fact that they have more knowledge of Qur’aan

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