What is the ruling on praying Jumu'ah behind an imam who glorifies himself in his sermon?
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The questioner : What is the ruling in Islam, in your view, on praying Jumu'ah behind an imam who glorifies himself in his sermon? I hope for your guidance in this matter. May Allah reward you with good and guide you to righteous deeds?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that if it is true that this imam glorifies himself in the Jumu'ah sermon, he has certainly taken the wrong path. The imam who is sincere to Allah, His Book, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims, and their common people is the one who focuses the topics of his sermon on what benefits people in their religious and worldly affairs. As for glorifying oneself, it is considered foolishness and a weakness of character, because a person's strength and reputation among people do not depend on his glorifying or exalting himself. People look at one another with their eyes, hear with their ears, and know who deserves respect and honor and who does not. If it is true that he glorifies himself, this only adds humiliation and degradation for this imam in the eyes of people. It is obligatory for him to abandon this and for his sermon to be one of guidance and direction toward what is in the best interest of the servants of Allah.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that if it is true that this imam glorifies himself in the Jumu'ah sermon, he has certainly taken the wrong path. The imam who is sincere to Allah, His Book, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims, and their common people is the one who focuses the topics of his sermon on what benefits people in their religious and worldly affairs. As for glorifying oneself, it is considered foolishness and a weakness of character, because a person's strength and reputation among people do not depend on his glorifying or exalting himself. People look at one another with their eyes, hear with their ears, and know who deserves respect and honor and who does not. If it is true that he glorifies himself, this only adds humiliation and degradation for this imam in the eyes of people. It is obligatory for him to abandon this and for his sermon to be one of guidance and direction toward what is in the best interest of the servants of Allah.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.