If the imam is an open sinner, does one join him in prayer?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : If the imam is defective and the latecomers are in the congregation, does he pray with them or pray alone if the imam is defective?
The Shaykh : Okay.
The questioner : If the imam is an open sinner and the latecomers are after the main congregation, and the main congregation is an open sinner and the latecomers come, does he leave the congregation if the imam is an open sinner and pray alone, or does he look at it?
The Shaykh : He joins him.
The questioner : Even if it is.
The Shaykh : The correct view is that he joins them, even if he is an open sinner. Yes, indeed.
The Shaykh : Okay.
The questioner : If the imam is an open sinner and the latecomers are after the main congregation, and the main congregation is an open sinner and the latecomers come, does he leave the congregation if the imam is an open sinner and pray alone, or does he look at it?
The Shaykh : He joins him.
The questioner : Even if it is.
The Shaykh : The correct view is that he joins them, even if he is an open sinner. Yes, indeed.
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 3058إذا كان الإمام فاسق هل ينضم إلى الصلاة؟📔 الشرح الممتع على زاد المستقنع - ابن عثيمين — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.