Prayer Behind a Polytheist
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Question: There is a man in the village where we live who recites the Qur'an without proper recitation, without tajwid, and without understanding the meaning. He believes in graves and the dead, makes vows to them, and believes that they can benefit and harm. Is it permissible to pray behind this imam? And is it permissible to pray over the dead if he dies while in this state? Please advise us, and may you be rewarded.
Answer: Whoever believes that the dead can benefit or harm, makes vows to them, and seeks nearness to them, is a polytheist committing major shirk, may Allah protect us from it; because this is worshipping other than Allah. Therefore, it is not permissible to pray behind him; and because he is not a Muslim as long as he remains in this state. However, it is obligatory for you to advise him and to make it clear to him that this is major shirk, and that it is obligatory for him to repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), to act in accordance with pure tawhid (the oneness of Allah), and to abandon worshipping the dead and worshipping his Lord (Glorified and Exalted is He) alone, with no partner for Him. If he repents and returns to Allah, then it is permissible to pray behind him. But as long as he remains in this state, he is not a Muslim, his prayer is not valid, and it is not permissible to pray behind him.
If he dies while in this state and does not repent, then he is not prayed over; because he is not a Muslim. The funeral prayer is for the dead if they are Muslim. As for the disbeliever, he is not prayed over, nor is he buried in the graves of Muslims, nor do Muslims take charge of his funeral; rather, his disbelieving relatives take charge of it.
Answer: Whoever believes that the dead can benefit or harm, makes vows to them, and seeks nearness to them, is a polytheist committing major shirk, may Allah protect us from it; because this is worshipping other than Allah. Therefore, it is not permissible to pray behind him; and because he is not a Muslim as long as he remains in this state. However, it is obligatory for you to advise him and to make it clear to him that this is major shirk, and that it is obligatory for him to repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), to act in accordance with pure tawhid (the oneness of Allah), and to abandon worshipping the dead and worshipping his Lord (Glorified and Exalted is He) alone, with no partner for Him. If he repents and returns to Allah, then it is permissible to pray behind him. But as long as he remains in this state, he is not a Muslim, his prayer is not valid, and it is not permissible to pray behind him.
If he dies while in this state and does not repent, then he is not prayed over; because he is not a Muslim. The funeral prayer is for the dead if they are Muslim. As for the disbeliever, he is not prayed over, nor is he buried in the graves of Muslims, nor do Muslims take charge of his funeral; rather, his disbelieving relatives take charge of it.