There is one mosque in our area, and its imam writes amulets and incantations and gives them to patients. Is it permissible to pray behind him?
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The questioner : There is one mosque in our area, and its imam writes amulets and incantations and gives them to patients. Is it permissible to pray behind him?
The Shaykh : Praying behind a Muslim is valid and correct according to the stronger opinion, even if he commits some sins. However, praying behind one who is upright is undoubtedly better.
As for if a person uses things that constitute major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that take him out of the Islamic religion, then it is not permissible to pray behind him. This is because his prayer is not valid. If one is not a Muslim, his prayer is not valid. And if the imam’s prayer is not valid, it is not possible to follow him, because you would be following someone who is not an imam and intending to follow an imam who is not an imam.
So let him look into the condition of this person about whom he asked.The questioner :
If his use of these things is not possible except through shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah (Mighty and Majestic), then the prayer behind him is not valid. He must be removed from the mosque and a Muslim man brought in.
And as for if these actions he performs do not make him a disbeliever, then it is not recommended to pray behind him if they lead to open sinfulness. However, if he prays behind him, his prayer is valid.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may He magnify your reward for what you have provided for us and for the honorable listening brothers. The honorable Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, professor at the College of Sharia and Principles of Religion in Qassim, and preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in the city of Unaizah, answered this episode. May Allah thank him for his effort, and thank you, O brothers and sisters. We will meet, by the power and strength of Allah, tomorrow, and we and you are in good health and well-being. Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : Praying behind a Muslim is valid and correct according to the stronger opinion, even if he commits some sins. However, praying behind one who is upright is undoubtedly better.
As for if a person uses things that constitute major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that take him out of the Islamic religion, then it is not permissible to pray behind him. This is because his prayer is not valid. If one is not a Muslim, his prayer is not valid. And if the imam’s prayer is not valid, it is not possible to follow him, because you would be following someone who is not an imam and intending to follow an imam who is not an imam.
So let him look into the condition of this person about whom he asked.The questioner :
If his use of these things is not possible except through shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah (Mighty and Majestic), then the prayer behind him is not valid. He must be removed from the mosque and a Muslim man brought in.
And as for if these actions he performs do not make him a disbeliever, then it is not recommended to pray behind him if they lead to open sinfulness. However, if he prays behind him, his prayer is valid.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may He magnify your reward for what you have provided for us and for the honorable listening brothers. The honorable Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, professor at the College of Sharia and Principles of Religion in Qassim, and preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in the city of Unaizah, answered this episode. May Allah thank him for his effort, and thank you, O brothers and sisters. We will meet, by the power and strength of Allah, tomorrow, and we and you are in good health and well-being. Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.