Is the prayer valid behind an imam who frequently swears by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), leads congregational supplication, concludes his supplication by reciting al-Fatihah, and does not adhere to the sunnahs of prayer?
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The questioner : There is an imam in our neighbor's mosque who constantly swears by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), saying for example, "Please, by the Prophet," or "Sit down, by the Prophet," or "Do such and such, by the Prophet." He also leads a congregational supplication after the prayer and concludes the supplication with al-Fatihah. He does not adhere to the sunnah in prayer, such as placing the right hand over the left, raising the hands when bowing, and raising the hands when rising from bowing. Is the prayer valid behind him or not? Please inform us, and may you be rewarded.
The Shaykh : The correct opinion among the scholars is that the prayer behind a sinner is valid, provided his sin does not amount to disbelief. However, the more God-fearing the imam is, the more preferable it is to pray behind him.
Regarding what you mentioned about this imam, if the matter is as you described, then it is obligatory for those responsible for imams and mosques to replace this imam with another, meaning they should appoint someone else in his place, unless he repents to Allah. This is because this imam swears by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and swearing by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is forbidden; indeed, it is a type of shirk (associating partners with Allah). This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 2679, and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Riyad as-Salihin 1711. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) does not approve of his Ummah (community) exaggerating in his regard to the extent of swearing by him as they swear by Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Indeed, whoever swears by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) believing that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has a share in lordship, control over the universe, bringing benefit, or averting harm, becomes a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah) committing major shirk, which expels him from the religion. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) does not possess the power to benefit or harm anyone, as Allah the Exalted commanded him: [Al-Jinn 72:21-22]. Just as he does not possess that power for others, he does not possess it for himself either, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-An'am 6:50], and as He said: [Al-A'raf 7:188]. Whoever wishes to honor the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) should honor him in the manner he guided his Ummah to, which is by honoring his Sunnah and following it outwardly and inwardly, and by loving him (peace and blessings be upon him) more than one loves oneself, one's children, one's parents, and all of mankind.
As for this imam not placing his right hand over his left, he has thereby contradicted the sunnah. The established sunnah from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is that he used to place his right hand over his left, as established in *Sahih al-Bukhari* from the hadith of Sahl ibn Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:Sahih al-Bukhari 740. Therefore, what is prescribed for a person in the standing position before or after bowing is to place his right hand over his left. The best place for the hands to be is on the chest. This is the best of what was narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the placement of the hands on the chest.
As for his not raising his hands when bowing, this is also contrary to the sunnah. It is established in the two Sahihs (al-Bukhari and Muslim) from the hadith of Ibn 'Umar:Bulugh al-Maram 2:155. It is also authentic that he used to raise them when rising from the first tashahhud. Therefore, one should not deviate from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) due to the saying of any person, whoever he may be.
As for his leading a congregational supplication after the prayer, this is one of the bid'ah (religious innovations) that did not come from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or his Companions. What is prescribed for the worshippers after the prayer is to remember Allah the Exalted, each person remembering Allah the Exalted alone with what came from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and this should be done aloud, as in *Sahih al-Bukhari* from the hadith of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said:Sahih Muslim 583c.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The correct opinion among the scholars is that the prayer behind a sinner is valid, provided his sin does not amount to disbelief. However, the more God-fearing the imam is, the more preferable it is to pray behind him.
Regarding what you mentioned about this imam, if the matter is as you described, then it is obligatory for those responsible for imams and mosques to replace this imam with another, meaning they should appoint someone else in his place, unless he repents to Allah. This is because this imam swears by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and swearing by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is forbidden; indeed, it is a type of shirk (associating partners with Allah). This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever has to take an oath should swear by Allah or remain silent.
من كان حالفاً فليحلف بالله أو ليصمتHe who swears by anyone or anything other than Allah, has indeed committed an act of Kufr or Shirk
من حلف بغير الله فقد كفر أو أشرك(21) Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction." (22) Say, "Indeed, there will never protect me from Allah anyone [if I should disobey], nor will I find in other than Him a refuge.
قُلْ إِنِّي لا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلا رَشَدًا * قُلْ إِنِّي لَنْ يُجِيرَنِي مِنَ اللَّهِ أَحَدٌ وَلَنْ أَجِدَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًاI do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel
قُلْ لا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي مَلَكٌSay, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allah has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe."
قُلْ لا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَلَوْ كُنتُ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ لاسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِيَ السُّوءُ إِنْ أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَAs for this imam not placing his right hand over his left, he has thereby contradicted the sunnah. The established sunnah from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is that he used to place his right hand over his left, as established in *Sahih al-Bukhari* from the hadith of Sahl ibn Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
The people were ordered to place the right hand on the left forearm in the prayer.
كان الناس يؤمرون أن يضع الرجل يده اليمنى على ذراعه اليسرى في الصلاةAs for his not raising his hands when bowing, this is also contrary to the sunnah. It is established in the two Sahihs (al-Bukhari and Muslim) from the hadith of Ibn 'Umar:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to raise his hands parallel to his shoulders when he started the prayer (by saying Allahu Akbar), when he uttered the Takbir to bow and when he raised his head from the Ruku' (bowing posture).
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يرفع يديه إذا كبر للصلاة، وإذا كبر للركوع، وإذا رفع رأسه من الركوعAs for his leading a congregational supplication after the prayer, this is one of the bid'ah (religious innovations) that did not come from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or his Companions. What is prescribed for the worshippers after the prayer is to remember Allah the Exalted, each person remembering Allah the Exalted alone with what came from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and this should be done aloud, as in *Sahih al-Bukhari* from the hadith of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said:
Dhikr (mentioning the name of Allah) in a loud voice after obligatory prayers was (a common practice) during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
كان رفع الصوت بالذكر حين ينصرف الناس من المكتوبة على عهد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلمThe questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.