The Prayer Behind an Imam Who Writes Amulets
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Fatwa No. ( 19181 )
Q: What is the ruling on praying behind an imam who writes amulets , and an imam who calls upon the righteous, believing that they can benefit or harm people? Is it permissible to pray behind him?
A : The prayer is valid behind an imam who writes amulets if they are from the Noble Qur'an and the prescribed supplications, or the names of Allah and His attributes, and the like.
However, writing such amulets from the Noble Qur'an or the names of Allah and His attributes is not permissible according to the correct opinion of the scholars; due to the generality of the hadiths indicating the prohibition of hanging amulets and the prohibition thereof, and because of the blocking of the means leading to shirk (associating partners with Allah); for hanging them may lead their owner to shirk, and because they may be disrespected by being taken into places of relieving oneself. Accordingly, if an imam is found who is better than him and does not write such amulets, he is more preferable. As for if that imam writes amulets from other than the Noble Qur'an and other than the names of Allah and His attributes, then it is not permissible to take him as an imam; for hanging them is minor shirk, and it may be major depending on what is in the heart of their owner; due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 3883Sahih (Al-Albani) , narrated by Imam Ahmad in (Al-Musnad), and Abu Dawud in his Sunan, and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): , and in a narration: , so it is obligatory to advise this imam and inform him that his action is shirk that contradicts tawhid (the oneness of Allah); perhaps he will repent and return to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). As for the imam who supplicates to the righteous people other than Allah and believes that they are intermediaries between people and Allah in bringing benefit or repelling harm, so he supplicates to them other than Allah, slaughters for them, makes vows for them, and the like of types of worship, then the prayer is not valid behind him, and whoever prays behind him his prayer is invalid; for supplicating to other than
Allah and believing in the benefit and harm therein is major shirk, since supplication is worship for Allah and it is not permissible to direct it to other than Him, so it is obligatory that he not lead the people in prayer while he is in this state. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his companions.
Q: What is the ruling on praying behind an imam who writes amulets , and an imam who calls upon the righteous, believing that they can benefit or harm people? Is it permissible to pray behind him?
A : The prayer is valid behind an imam who writes amulets if they are from the Noble Qur'an and the prescribed supplications, or the names of Allah and His attributes, and the like.
However, writing such amulets from the Noble Qur'an or the names of Allah and His attributes is not permissible according to the correct opinion of the scholars; due to the generality of the hadiths indicating the prohibition of hanging amulets and the prohibition thereof, and because of the blocking of the means leading to shirk (associating partners with Allah); for hanging them may lead their owner to shirk, and because they may be disrespected by being taken into places of relieving oneself. Accordingly, if an imam is found who is better than him and does not write such amulets, he is more preferable. As for if that imam writes amulets from other than the Noble Qur'an and other than the names of Allah and His attributes, then it is not permissible to take him as an imam; for hanging them is minor shirk, and it may be major depending on what is in the heart of their owner; due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
spells, charms and love-potions are polytheism
إن الرقى والتمائم والتولة شركWhoever hangs a tamimah, Allah will not complete for him, and whoever hangs a wada'ah, Allah will not grant him peace.
من تعلق تميمة فلا أتم الله له، ومن تعلق ودعة فلا ودع الله لهWhoever hangs up an amulet has committed shirk.
من تعلق تميمة فقد أشركAllah and believing in the benefit and harm therein is major shirk, since supplication is worship for Allah and it is not permissible to direct it to other than Him, so it is obligatory that he not lead the people in prayer while he is in this state. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.