Consuming betel, cigarettes and the like while walking on the road

Question

Question: Many people, while walking through markets or along roads, keep eating and smoking various things — for example betel (a chew wrapped in a leaf), bidi (thin Indian cigarettes rolled in a leaf), cigarettes and the like. Has Islam declared such people to be those whose testimony is rejected (mardud al-shahada)?

Answer

Things which, by custom (‘urf), are not considered contrary to decorum (muruwwa) to eat while walking on the road — eating them in this way does not make a person one whose testimony is rejected: [ar]وأما إذا شرب الماء أو أكل الفواكه على الطريق لا يقدح في عدالته؛ لأن الناس لا تستقبح ذلك[/ar] “As for when he drinks water or eats fruit on the road, it does not impair his probity…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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