The ruling on the prayer of an imam who lets his garment hang below the ankles

Question:
May Allah reward you and bless you. The questioner asks: What is the validity of the prayer of an imam who lets his garment hang below the ankles, or who is wearing a shalwar, when there is someone present who does not let his garment hang below the ankles, who is capable of leading the prayer in his place, and who is proficient in reciting the Qur'an?

Answer:
This differs depending on whether he is a regular imam. If he is a regular imam, he is advised to abandon this practice. If he persists and refuses to accept the advice, the matter is referred to the authority responsible for imams so that they may replace him with someone else. If he is a regular imam, he is first advised; if he complies, praise be to Allah; if he does not comply, the competent authority is approached to replace him with someone else. He should not lead the people in prayer while letting his garment hang below the ankles, because letting the garment hang below the ankles is a major sin among the major sins. The one who commits a major sin is an open sinner, and it is not permissible for him to be an imam, because the imam is a role model, and others follow his example in this blameworthy trait. However, if he is not a regular imam, but rather a group of people who have gathered to pray, they should put forward the best of those present. The Muslim does not put forward the best of all, but rather the best of those present.