What is the ruling on praying behind an imam who calls upon the dead other than Allah, and there are people who circumambulate the shrines?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on praying behind an imam who calls upon the dead other than Allah, and there are people who circumambulate the shrines?
The Shaykh : Praying behind an imam who calls upon anyone other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is invalid, because anyone who calls upon anyone other than Allah is one who associates partners with Allah in major shirk, which takes him out of the religion. It is not permissible for a person to pray behind a disbeliever. It is obligatory for the responsible authorities to dismiss this imam from his position and not allow him to lead the Muslims in prayer.
As for circumambulating the shrines, if that is done to honor the person in the grave, it is disbelief, because the act of circumambulation is a type of worship, and I mean by that the circumambulation of the Sacred Ka'bah. So if one circumambulates a person's grave while honoring him, it is as if he is worshipping the person in the grave, and that is disbelief that takes one out of the religion, because he has associated partners with Allah in worship. Therefore, one must be careful about appointing such people to be imams for the Muslims. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This questioner says, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Praying behind an imam who calls upon anyone other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is invalid, because anyone who calls upon anyone other than Allah is one who associates partners with Allah in major shirk, which takes him out of the religion. It is not permissible for a person to pray behind a disbeliever. It is obligatory for the responsible authorities to dismiss this imam from his position and not allow him to lead the Muslims in prayer.
As for circumambulating the shrines, if that is done to honor the person in the grave, it is disbelief, because the act of circumambulation is a type of worship, and I mean by that the circumambulation of the Sacred Ka'bah. So if one circumambulates a person's grave while honoring him, it is as if he is worshipping the person in the grave, and that is disbelief that takes one out of the religion, because he has associated partners with Allah in worship. Therefore, one must be careful about appointing such people to be imams for the Muslims. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This questioner says, O honorable Shaykh.