What is the ruling on praying behind one who shaves his beard or smokes tobacco?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh, if the jurists said!
The Shaykh : Regarding the question of praying behind one who shaves his beard, the correct view is that praying behind an open sinner—whether he shaves his beard or smokes tobacco—is valid, because there is no evidence that the imamate of an open sinner invalidates the prayer. However, there is no doubt that it is not permissible for the one in authority to appoint in the mosques one who is a sinner openly committing sin. It is also correct that if there is a mosque whose imam possesses a degree of mindfulness of Allah that this man does not have, one should go to that mosque. Yes.
The Shaykh : Regarding the question of praying behind one who shaves his beard, the correct view is that praying behind an open sinner—whether he shaves his beard or smokes tobacco—is valid, because there is no evidence that the imamate of an open sinner invalidates the prayer. However, there is no doubt that it is not permissible for the one in authority to appoint in the mosques one who is a sinner openly committing sin. It is also correct that if there is a mosque whose imam possesses a degree of mindfulness of Allah that this man does not have, one should go to that mosque. Yes.