Is the prayer valid behind a polytheist imam who claims to be a wali?
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The questioner : Do such actions affect the validity of their prayer behind this imam?
The Shaykh : If they are ignorant, it does not affect it. But if they are aware of his condition and aware of the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding him, then their prayer is not valid, because the prayer of a disbeliever is not valid, even if he prays, as long as he associates partners with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). And the most likely case, in my opinion, is that they were ignorant of this. Therefore, they do not have to repeat their past prayers.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If they are ignorant, it does not affect it. But if they are aware of his condition and aware of the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding him, then their prayer is not valid, because the prayer of a disbeliever is not valid, even if he prays, as long as he associates partners with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). And the most likely case, in my opinion, is that they were ignorant of this. Therefore, they do not have to repeat their past prayers.
The questioner : Yes.