Light on the Path-094a
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The questioner : The questioner says: There is a mosque in the village next to ours where the Friday prayer is performed. However, the residents of our village have disagreed among themselves; some perform the Friday prayer in that mosque, while others perform it in their homes. As for me, during my vacation, I used to perform the Friday prayer in that mosque. When I asked them about the reason for their refusal to pray there, they said that the imam does not read well; he reads quickly and sometimes raises some of the broken verses and declines them at other times. It is known that there is someone more knowledgeable than him about the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). This latter person works in teaching the Qur'an and helping the children of the village memorize it. In my opinion, the residents of that village did not appoint this man as their imam because he is a stranger, meaning he is not from their family, although he resides in this village and is married into it. Is the prayer valid behind the first imam?
The Shaykh : If the first imam does not make a mistake that changes the meaning, then the prayer behind him is valid. However, if he makes a mistake that changes the meaning, then one should not pray behind him. But it is obligatory for you to contact the authorities regarding this imam who does not read well, so that he can be taught until he masters the reading, or he can be replaced by someone who reads well and is better than him in establishing the Friday prayer leadership, because this is the responsibility of everyone. It is not possible for people to be told: "Pray behind this one who does not read well, or pray in your homes," for this is contrary to what is prescribed.
Therefore, the important point is that if the mistake does not change the meaning, then the prayer behind him is valid, but he should be taught or replaced. However, if it changes the meaning and he cannot correct it, then the prayer behind him is not valid, and it is not permissible for him to remain as imam in this situation.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If the first imam does not make a mistake that changes the meaning, then the prayer behind him is valid. However, if he makes a mistake that changes the meaning, then one should not pray behind him. But it is obligatory for you to contact the authorities regarding this imam who does not read well, so that he can be taught until he masters the reading, or he can be replaced by someone who reads well and is better than him in establishing the Friday prayer leadership, because this is the responsibility of everyone. It is not possible for people to be told: "Pray behind this one who does not read well, or pray in your homes," for this is contrary to what is prescribed.
Therefore, the important point is that if the mistake does not change the meaning, then the prayer behind him is valid, but he should be taught or replaced. However, if it changes the meaning and he cannot correct it, then the prayer behind him is not valid, and it is not permissible for him to remain as imam in this situation.
The questioner : Yes.