The Ruling on Praying Behind an Innovator

Question:
What is the ruling on praying behind an innovator?

Answer:
First, one should choose an imam who follows the Sunnah, with no fault noted in his conduct, morals, religion, or worship. He should not be an innovator, nor an open sinner. One should choose the best available in terms of his knowledge, his trustworthiness, and his being from the people of the Sunnah and the community. However, if you find people praying and you find no one else to pray behind, and you know nothing about the imam, then pray with them and hold a good opinion of the imam. If you are certain that he is an innovator, and his innovation involves shirk (associating partners with Allah)—if he calls upon the dead or seeks aid from the awliya (close friends of Allah) and the righteous—then he is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah), and the prayer behind him is not valid. If his innovation is less than that, being an innovation that does not reach shirk or kufr (disbelief), then the prayer behind him is not valid when there is a choice. But if you find them praying, pray with them so that you do not miss the prayer in congregation. Yes.