Islam Question and Answer - She has received a proposal from a young man who smokes – should she agree to marry him?

She has received a proposal from a young man who smokes – should she agree to marry him?

A man proposed to me. When we asked about him and found out that he smokes. Should a man be refused due to such a vice?.

 

Praise be to Allaah.

Smoking is haraam because of evidence which we have explained
previously in the answer to question no.
9083. 

The one who persists in smoking is no longer regarded as
being of good character, and the basic principle is that a woman should
choose a husband who is righteous and of good character, who does not commit
major sins or persist in minor sins, and who is not known as an evildoer.
But if she is getting older and fears that no one will propose to her in the
near future, and this suitor is religiously committed and of good character
in other ways, such as if he prays regularly and is kind and has a good
attitude, and he keeps away from evil and immoral things, after enquiring
closely about him, then she may pray istikhaarah and ask Allaah for
guidance, and agree to marry him, but she should advise him after that and
encourage him to give up smoking. 

But if she still has some time and is likely to have the
opportunity to marry someone else who is righteous, then she should not
accept the suitor who smokes, because of what we have stated above that he
is persisting in sin, and because smoking is harmful to him and others, and
it will also harm the wife and children. A woman may not be able to stand
being intimate when there is the foul stench of smoke, and staying with the
husband may cause her distress and hardship. May Allaah help us all to do
that which He loves and which pleases Him. 

And Allaah knows best.