The Ruling on Praying Behind a Person of Religious Innovation
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We have an imam who is a person of religious innovations. Because he is an Ash'ari or a Sufi, is our prayer behind him valid?
The prayer of anyone whose prayer is valid, his leading of the prayer is valid, except for a woman leading a man. So the one who shaves his beard, the one who lets his garment hang below the ankles, the one who smokes, and the innovator who commits an innovation that does not make him a disbeliever; all of these, the prayer behind them is valid, unless praying behind them encourages them to persist in what they are upon, such that they say: What Allah willed, so-and-so prays behind us, we are on the right path. In that case, do not pray behind him.As for if he means: As for the common people, if it does not matter to the imam that he prays behind these people, then let him pray behind them. Did you understand the rule now? The prayer of anyone whose prayer is valid, his leading of the prayer is valid, except for a woman leading a man.
All right! The prayer of a boy behind an adult is valid. But if he is a person of religious innovation or open sinfulness, and you fear that if you pray behind him, it will encourage him and make him pleased with himself and think he is on the right path, or that the people will also be misled, then do not pray behind him.
The questioner: If it is a regular voluntary prayer?Answer: Whether it is a regular voluntary prayer or not.
The prayer of anyone whose prayer is valid, his leading of the prayer is valid, except for a woman leading a man. So the one who shaves his beard, the one who lets his garment hang below the ankles, the one who smokes, and the innovator who commits an innovation that does not make him a disbeliever; all of these, the prayer behind them is valid, unless praying behind them encourages them to persist in what they are upon, such that they say: What Allah willed, so-and-so prays behind us, we are on the right path. In that case, do not pray behind him.As for if he means: As for the common people, if it does not matter to the imam that he prays behind these people, then let him pray behind them. Did you understand the rule now? The prayer of anyone whose prayer is valid, his leading of the prayer is valid, except for a woman leading a man.
All right! The prayer of a boy behind an adult is valid. But if he is a person of religious innovation or open sinfulness, and you fear that if you pray behind him, it will encourage him and make him pleased with himself and think he is on the right path, or that the people will also be misled, then do not pray behind him.
The questioner: If it is a regular voluntary prayer?Answer: Whether it is a regular voluntary prayer or not.