Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who does not face the qiblah, knowing that he is not facing it?

The questioner : Regarding praying behind an imam from the perspective of the ma'mum: if the ma'mum knows that the imam is praying not in the direction of the qiblah, meaning he is praying toward the north while the qiblah is toward the northeast, is it permissible for the ma'mum to pray behind him if he knows the direction and the imam knows it too, but... due to the size of the carpet or the building? Is it permissible for the ma'mum to pray behind him?

The Shaykh : Where does this imam you are describing pray, far from the Ka'bah, like here for example?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Ah, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: That is, if we assume that this window in front of me is the Ka'bah and this is the direction of the qiblah for me, then as long as I do not pray like this or like this, but rather like this, like this, and like this, meaning facing the direction, for example from here toward the south, I face the south and I do not face the Ka'bah itself, because I do not see it or observe it, then his prayer is valid. This is the meaning of his statement (peace and blessings be upon him): However, if he sees the Ka'bah with his own eyes, or knows of it through information from someone using some of the modern devices known today, and he believes and holds that this window, for example, is the Ka'bah itself, and then he deviates from it, then his prayer is invalid, and it is not permissible to pray behind him as long as he is obstinate and stubborn. In my opinion, regarding the situation you are asking about, it is not possible to rule that the prayer behind the imam is invalid as long as he is praying far from the Ka'bah; whichever direction he prays toward, his prayer is valid, but he should strive to be accurate to the best of his ability. Yes.

The questioner : You mentioned that between the east and the west is the qiblah, but the direction of the mosque itself is away from the north. Is this sufficient for the direction of the qiblah?

The Shaykh : Of course, may Allah reward you. The intent of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was regarding Madinah, but regarding Jeddah, for example, between the south and the north is their qiblah. It does not mean that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said that between the east and the west is the qiblah for all the inhabitants of the earth. The scholars of knowledge know this. Otherwise, please go ahead.