Is the prayer valid behind a murderer who killed intentionally?

The Shaykh : If they refuse to pray behind him, for example, for some reason, here is the answer to your question, which is: Is the prayer valid behind a murderer? We say: This murderer is in one of two states. Either he has repented to Allah with sincere repentance, in which case Allah (Mighty and Majestic) forgives all sins, and praying behind him is like praying behind any person who is not a murderer. Or, may Allah forbid it, if the other state is that he has not repented from his killing, in that case he is an open sinner and a transgressor, and not the righteous one. Muslims should choose their imam to be righteous. . So this hadith, in terms of its chain of narration, is not authentic, but in terms of its meaning, it is correct. Because among the beliefs of Muslims, as we mentioned earlier, which the later generations inherited from the earlier ones, is that the prayer is valid behind an open sinner. But this does not mean that we should not choose the righteous and virtuous imam. No, but a person may be tested, especially in this time when imamate has become a profession. Imamate has become a profession, and those who enter this profession include those who are qualified for it and those from whom the profession disowns itself, as the wolf disowns the blood of Yusuf. It has become a job like any other job, containing the righteous and the wicked. Is the prayer behind the wicked imam valid, whether his wickedness is by killing, or by consuming people's wealth unjustly, or by consuming riba or dealing in riba? And we know that many of the imams of mosques deal in riba. What is the ruling on praying behind this one and that one and their like? We praise Allah that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) made it easy in this and did not make it difficult. When His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said what suffices us from the previous hadith attributed to him, , He sufficed us from this hadith by his saying (peace and blessings be upon him), as in "Sahih al-Bukhari," from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding the imams: , , in a general error, whether in their prayer, or in their persons, or in their wearing of the pants that cover the awrah, or say whatever examples you wish. If they hit the mark, it is for you and for them; and if they err, it is for you and upon them. The word is what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) intended when he said: . The imam is responsible for the validity of the prayer of those who follow him. So if an imam prayed while in a state of minor or major ritual impurity, and the people behind him do not know, their prayer is valid, but he bears the burden of his prayer with them while in a state of minor or major ritual impurity. . The first covenant, for which no parallel can be imagined in the world, in which some strange things occurred due to some wicked rulers and governors. One of the governors once prayed the Fajr prayer in Kufa in Iraq. He prayed the Fajr prayer four rak'ahs. What do you think? An imam praying with the Muslims, among whom were some of the Companions, let alone the great Tabi'un, prayed the Fajr prayer four rak'ahs. Why? Because he was dazed from drinking intoxicants. And that indicates to you that when he finished the prayer with them, he said to them: "Shall I add to you? Shall I add to you?" None of them repeated the prayer. Why? Because they knew that he was responsible. They knew his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): . So this murderer, in his worst state, is that he is still persisting in killing and has not repented to Allah. The prayer behind him is valid because he bears the burden of his open sinfulness and his killing. And if he has repented, then whoever repents, Allah turns to him in mercy, and the issue is resolved.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.

The questioner : What about the one who performed Hajj and did not stand at 'Arafah except only before the midday?

Another questioner : The same question regarding the same question.

The Shaykh: All right, go ahead.