Is it permissible for a Muslim to pray behind an imam who plays koutshina (a card game) and is, at the same time, not committed in his speech and in his prayer?
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The questioner : This questioner from Sudan says in this question: Is it permissible for a Muslim to pray behind an imam who plays koutshina and is, at the same time, not committed in his speech and in his prayer? Is it permissible for us to pray behind this person?
The Shaykh : The card game: some of our shaykhs have explicitly stated that it is forbidden, and among those who explicitly state this is our Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him), because it distracts greatly and occupies one with matters more important than it, if it has any importance. If the imam engages in this game and is also not committed in other respects, then if he is the regular imam, it is obligatory to pray with him. If he is not a regular imam, then it is not befitting to appoint him as an imam for people in prayer; rather, one should look for someone who is more mindful of Allah than he is, provided that this more mindful person is proficient in the obligatory recitation in prayer. My advice to you is to advise this imam first of all and make it clear to him that it is not befitting for one who is an imam for the worshippers to lower himself to these matters. If he reforms, that is what is desired, and it is better for you and for him. If he does not reform, then the recourse is to the responsible authorities in this matter, so that either he is corrected or he is replaced. If neither correction nor replacement occurs, then pray behind him, and his sin is upon himself, but on the condition that he does not neglect the prayer. If he neglects the prayer by not being tranquil in it, and you cannot follow him except by leaving off tranquility, then do not pray behind him, because this affects your prayer in reality. You will either follow him without tranquility, or you will be tranquil and not be able to follow him, and both possibilities are forbidden. So if you cannot be tranquil with him because he hastens in bowing or prostration or rising from them, then leave him and pray in another place.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : The card game: some of our shaykhs have explicitly stated that it is forbidden, and among those who explicitly state this is our Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him), because it distracts greatly and occupies one with matters more important than it, if it has any importance. If the imam engages in this game and is also not committed in other respects, then if he is the regular imam, it is obligatory to pray with him. If he is not a regular imam, then it is not befitting to appoint him as an imam for people in prayer; rather, one should look for someone who is more mindful of Allah than he is, provided that this more mindful person is proficient in the obligatory recitation in prayer. My advice to you is to advise this imam first of all and make it clear to him that it is not befitting for one who is an imam for the worshippers to lower himself to these matters. If he reforms, that is what is desired, and it is better for you and for him. If he does not reform, then the recourse is to the responsible authorities in this matter, so that either he is corrected or he is replaced. If neither correction nor replacement occurs, then pray behind him, and his sin is upon himself, but on the condition that he does not neglect the prayer. If he neglects the prayer by not being tranquil in it, and you cannot follow him except by leaving off tranquility, then do not pray behind him, because this affects your prayer in reality. You will either follow him without tranquility, or you will be tranquil and not be able to follow him, and both possibilities are forbidden. So if you cannot be tranquil with him because he hastens in bowing or prostration or rising from them, then leave him and pray in another place.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.