An imam refused to pray over a funeral, causing a fitnah in the mosque; was the imam’s action correct?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner says: An imam and khatib, after he had led the people in the Friday prayer, a man’s funeral was brought in. Some people said this man does not pray, while others said he does pray at times. So this imam went out and did not pray over the funeral, and a great fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) occurred that nearly led to killing. Was this imam’s action correct?

Answer:
In any case, he is not required to pray over it. One person steps forward and a second prays, and the problem is resolved. But you are not required to make one person pray over it; he is not obligated to do so.