An imam appointed someone to lead the prayer, but when this deputy came to lead the prayer, the mu'adhdhin prevented him and ordered another person to lead the prayer due to his lack of knowledge
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The questioner : May the Shaykh be honored, what is the ruling on one whom the imam of the mosque appointed to lead the prayer, and when the deputy came to lead the prayer, the mu'adhdhin prevented him from leading and appointed another man, and the mu'adhdhin's reason for this was the appointed person's lack of knowledge?
The Shaykh : Yes, this is in reality a transgression by the mu'adhdhin. The mu'adhdhin has no say in the imamate whatsoever. The imamate is the imam's affair, and no one is incapable of leading people in prayer; one reads al-Fatihah and whatever is easy for him to read, and praise be to Allah. So I see that this mu'adhdhin, may Allah guide him and pardon him for what has passed, may Allah guide him in what is to come and pardon what has passed, has erred and encroached upon the imam's right. He has no right to appoint the other person. And according to the opinion of some scholars, their prayer is invalid and the prayer of the one who led them is invalid, because they are not a regular imam nor a deputy for a regular imam. But we see that the imamate is valid, if Allah wills, meaning I intend that the prayer is valid and that the action is forbidden. Then this person whom the mu'adhdhin appointed should have said, "I will not pray, for the imam's deputy is present," because the imam's deputy stands in the place of the imam. So let this mu'adhdhin know that he should repent to Allah and seek Allah's forgiveness, and not return to such an act.
The questioner : Oh Shaykh
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is in reality a transgression by the mu'adhdhin. The mu'adhdhin has no say in the imamate whatsoever. The imamate is the imam's affair, and no one is incapable of leading people in prayer; one reads al-Fatihah and whatever is easy for him to read, and praise be to Allah. So I see that this mu'adhdhin, may Allah guide him and pardon him for what has passed, may Allah guide him in what is to come and pardon what has passed, has erred and encroached upon the imam's right. He has no right to appoint the other person. And according to the opinion of some scholars, their prayer is invalid and the prayer of the one who led them is invalid, because they are not a regular imam nor a deputy for a regular imam. But we see that the imamate is valid, if Allah wills, meaning I intend that the prayer is valid and that the action is forbidden. Then this person whom the mu'adhdhin appointed should have said, "I will not pray, for the imam's deputy is present," because the imam's deputy stands in the place of the imam. So let this mu'adhdhin know that he should repent to Allah and seek Allah's forgiveness, and not return to such an act.
The questioner : Oh Shaykh
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : Peace be upon you.