Continuation of the answer regarding the issue: The innovator who leads people in prayer, is advised, but does not desist

The Shaykh : So this extremist regarding this mosque said: Has not the time come for this church to close its doors? And one of them, a judge who rules by the Shari'ah in his claim, said: If I had any authority, I would take the jizyah from the Shafi'is. And so, if we were to apply some of the branches found today in some of these books, a Shafi'i would not pray behind a Hanafi, nor would a Hanafi pray behind a Shafi'i. For among the Hanafi texts is: Has any of you read Hanafi or Shafi'i jurisprudence so that we can discuss this issue? It is disliked to pray behind one who differs in school of jurisprudence, and it may even be invalid if the one praying behind the imam knows that his ablution is not valid. They gave examples: If a Hanafi sees a Shafi'i perform a complete ablution and then touches a woman, his ablution is broken. Excuse me, I made a mistake. A Hanafi performs ablution and touches a woman; his ablution is valid in the Hanafi school, but defective in the Shafi'i school. So this Hanafi leading the Shafi'i does not consider the prayer behind him valid because this ablution is defective in his view. And conversely, if a Hanafi performs ablution and blood comes out of him, his ablution is broken in his school. So the prayer behind him is invalid for one who holds that blood breaks the ablution. If this Hanafi adopts the school of Imam al-Shafi'i that blood, no matter how much, if it comes out, his ablution is valid, [he] would not pray behind him.

Another questioner : The Maliki school, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : How?

The questioner : The Maliki school or the Hanafi school?

The Shaykh : No, I am saying now, regarding the two schools we are discussing: The Hanafi holds that the emergence of blood breaks the ablution, whether it is much or little, and if he touches a woman, his ablution is valid. And the opposite is the case with the Shafi'i, who says that touching a woman breaks the ablution, and the emergence of blood, no matter how much, does not break the ablution. So salvation is to board the ship of salvation, the ship of the Sunnah. Listen now to the answer in the Sunnah. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding the imams: There is nothing broader than this, and with such a ruling.

Another questioner : Is it permissible to follow him?

The Shaykh : Yes. I wanted to say something like this meaning: With such a ruling, it is possible to unite the Muslims. But by Allah, if you say "your school is such and such, and my school is such and such," that is the division we were warned against. Perhaps you have received the answer, if Allah wills.

The questioner : Yes, may Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : Let us hear from someone else.