The mu'takif smoking bidis and cigarettes

Question

Zayd is very strongly addicted to bidis (thin Indian leaf-rolled cigarettes) and cigarettes and cannot do without smoking. Now what needs to be ascertained is this: in the state of i'tikaf, should he use bidis and cigarettes outside the mosque, or while remaining in the mosque itself? Also, apart from Zayd, no one is prepared to become a mu'takif in the mosque; so in that case should he be made the mu'takif, or should it be abandoned? Furthermore, what things are included in natural human needs?

Answer

I'tikaf has great merit and great benefit, and it should be attended to with care. When he goes out of the mosque at night to relieve himself (to defecate or urinate), let him also fulfil this need (the bidi or cigarette) there, clean his mouth thoroughly with wudu, the miswak and the like, and not come into the mosque with a foul-smelling mouth.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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