The ruling on the official imam who appoints someone to pray in his place
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Question:
The questioner asks in this question: What is the ruling on one who is an official imam and provides a person to pray in his place permanently? This imam may be present in the country, or he may be a student at a university in another country.
Answer:
This is an action that is not permissible. If a person takes on a job, it is obligatory for him to carry it out because it is a trust. Also, if he receives money in return for it, it is not lawful for him unless he performs the work as required. If he is unable to perform the imamah, he should not apply for it; he should leave it to one who can perform it, and not take control of it and neglect it. So, it is not permissible. Yes, if he is faced with a temporary circumstance, such as illness or a temporary trip, there is no harm in his appointing a deputy. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to appoint a deputy to lead the people in prayer when he was absent. He would appoint Ibn Umm Maktum when he traveled for a military expedition or for other travel. Once, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went out to reconcile people who had a dispute among them. Abu Bakr stepped forward and led the people in prayer. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived, Abu Bakr stepped back, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stepped forward. So, appointing a deputy is permissible in the case of a temporary need. As for the person who does not perform the work, but rather takes the position, leaves the work, and appoints someone to do it for him, this is not obligatory; rather, he must relinquish the job so that someone else can perform it.
The presenter:
May Allah bless you.
The questioner asks in this question: What is the ruling on one who is an official imam and provides a person to pray in his place permanently? This imam may be present in the country, or he may be a student at a university in another country.
Answer:
This is an action that is not permissible. If a person takes on a job, it is obligatory for him to carry it out because it is a trust. Also, if he receives money in return for it, it is not lawful for him unless he performs the work as required. If he is unable to perform the imamah, he should not apply for it; he should leave it to one who can perform it, and not take control of it and neglect it. So, it is not permissible. Yes, if he is faced with a temporary circumstance, such as illness or a temporary trip, there is no harm in his appointing a deputy. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to appoint a deputy to lead the people in prayer when he was absent. He would appoint Ibn Umm Maktum when he traveled for a military expedition or for other travel. Once, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went out to reconcile people who had a dispute among them. Abu Bakr stepped forward and led the people in prayer. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived, Abu Bakr stepped back, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stepped forward. So, appointing a deputy is permissible in the case of a temporary need. As for the person who does not perform the work, but rather takes the position, leaves the work, and appoints someone to do it for him, this is not obligatory; rather, he must relinquish the job so that someone else can perform it.
The presenter:
May Allah bless you.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، محاضرات في العقيدة والدعوة-059-خلق النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ووجوب الاقتداء به|صالح الفوزان — youtube.com (1:14:27)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.