What is the ruling on praying behind a seated imam who is sitting during the prayer?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. There is a group in prison who are praying, but they had an imam who was struck by an illness that left him seated, and he was unable to stand or rise to perform the prayer with the congregation. None of them are knowledgeable in fiqh or skilled in reciting the Qur'an except for one man, who is a murderer who killed intentionally.
The Shaykh : Who is he?
The questioner : There is a person in the prison.
The Shaykh : No, I mean other than the seated man?
The questioner : Other than the seated man.
The Shaykh: All right.
The questioner : So, is it permissible for them to pray behind him, or is it not permissible for them?
The Shaykh : Behind this murderer?
The questioner : Yes, because most of those in the prison, or in this specific section of the prison, are charged with murder, meaning all of them.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : So, is it permissible for them to pray behind him as followers, or should they each pray individually? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : I sense from your question that you have dismissed the seated imam as if he were a non-entity because he is seated. You have turned away from the question of whether the prayer behind him is valid or not, and directed your conversation toward this murderer and whether the prayer behind him is valid.
The questioner : It is the same person. The seated man entrusted me with the responsibility to ask this question.
The Shaykh : That is not important. I am telling you, I am telling you that what I understood from you is that he asked you this question.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And your conversation revolves around the imam who is not seated.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : But he is a murderer.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Correct?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I want to say, why don't they pray behind the seated imam? And it seems from your words that he is not a murderer.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So why don't they pray behind him? Because he is unable to stand, bow, or prostrate.
The questioner : Apart from the fact that he is in prison, which does not mean he is a permanent resident; he is not permanently in that place and may be transferred at any moment. So if he is transferred...
The questioner : Apart from the fact that he is... in prison, which does not mean he is a permanent resident; he is not permanently in that place and may be transferred at any moment. So if he is transferred...
The Shaykh : Before he is transferred, may Allah be pleased with you, before he is transferred, is he still there or not?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Why don't they pray behind him?
The questioner : They are currently praying behind him, but the question is if he is transferred, is it permissible? Before he is transferred, during the period...
The Shaykh : The question was not like that. The question was not, if he is transferred, who will pray there.
The questioner : They, if... the question...
The Shaykh : In any case, there is a benefit in the discussion. There is a benefit in clarifying the question, because what I understood is that the seated man is in prison, but because he is seated, they are questioning. And finally, I said he is questioning.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Is the prayer behind that physically sound murderer valid? That was the answer. I want to answer your question and what you did not ask. You asked about the validity of the prayer behind the murderer, and you did not ask about the validity of the prayer behind the seated man who is not a murderer. And when I drew your attention to it, you said this is possible, that he may be transferred.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : But before he is transferred, and as long as he is not a murderer, they should pray behind him. You will hear an answer that you and all the attendees may find strange, but it is a sound Sunnah. First: we must mention who is more deserving of leading the prayer, setting aside for now the seated man and the murderer. Do you see the Messenger (peace be upon him) saying:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 235Sahih (Darussalam)? Now, if the seated man is the best reciter of the group, meaning better than the murderer, he is the most deserving of leading the prayer. And if the opposite is the case, meaning the murderer is the best reciter, he is more deserving than the seated man and any other non-seated person. If he were the best reciter, by the rule: Sunan Ibn Majah 980Sahih (Darussalam). So, as far as you know, who is the best reciter, the seated man or the sound one?
The questioner : The seated man.
The Shaykh : The seated man. So inform the group that it is obligatory for them. Inform the seated man that it is obligatory for him, above all else, to lead the people there. If he is transferred, that is a different ruling. As long as he is there, he should lead them, in response to his saying (peace be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 980Sahih (Darussalam). So as long as he is the best reciter, he is the imam. It is not permissible for the others to step forward in front of him on the pretext that he is seated. Rather, it is obligatory for the public and the congregation who will follow him. And this is what drew attention to the fact that it may be strange to the attendees and others. It is obligatory for the entire congregation to pray behind him sitting, equal to this seated man in the prayer, and not to be higher than him. He is seated and they are standing. This is not permissible in Islam. And there is a sound and explicit hadith on this. Imam Muslim narrated in his Sahih from the hadith of Jabir ibn 'Abd Allah al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him): "That the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was riding his mount, so the sun shone on him, and he fell on his shoulder. When the time for the midday prayer came, he was unable to lead the people standing as is obligatory and required. Rather, he prayed sitting. As for the Companions, they stood as is required behind him, standing; because they knew that the obligatory prayer is not valid for a sound person sitting. Rather, he must stand, in obedience to the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic): [Al-Baqarah 2:238], [Al-Baqarah 2:238]; meaning: humble and worshipping. So the Companions acted on this principle. When the Messenger (peace be upon him) sat out of necessity, they stood. And we can say that in their own souls, they were also in a state of necessity, because that is the original ruling they received from their Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). But when the Messenger (peace be upon him) knew, or I say, when he saw them praying behind him standing—I say he saw them because he did not see them with the back of his eye. Rather, it was among his characteristics (peace and blessings be upon him) that he could see behind him in prayer only, seeing behind him as he sees in front of him. He used to say (peace be upon him): . So the Messenger (peace be upon him) saw them praying behind him standing, so he gestured to them to sit, and they sat. And they were praying with gestures for bowing and prostration, prostrating with the Prophet (peace be upon him). When the prayer was finished, our Prophet (may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) turned to his Companions and said to them: . A very great matter. You were on the verge, you were close to imitating the non-Arabs, where the king sits on his throne and the people around him stand in reverence for him. You were on the verge of doing what they do. The complete hadith: Sunan Ibn Majah 1238Sahih (Darussalam). And so, and so, were the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When the imam was sick and unable to lead the people standing, he would sit, and the people would sit behind him, implementing his command (peace be upon him) Sunan Ibn Majah 846Sahih (Darussalam).
Yes, Abu Ahmad.
The questioner : The woman's hijab.
The Shaykh : Not yet, not yet.
The questioner : .
The Shaykh : Not yet.
The questioner : He is still, O Shaykh, telling you what his role is now.
The Shaykh : So this seated imam in prison, may Allah free him from his prison, must lead the people. And it is up to you to convey this hadith to him.
The questioner : If Allah wills.
The Shaykh : And he, in turn, conveys it to those who pray behind him.
The Shaykh : Who is he?
The questioner : There is a person in the prison.
The Shaykh : No, I mean other than the seated man?
The questioner : Other than the seated man.
The Shaykh: All right.
The questioner : So, is it permissible for them to pray behind him, or is it not permissible for them?
The Shaykh : Behind this murderer?
The questioner : Yes, because most of those in the prison, or in this specific section of the prison, are charged with murder, meaning all of them.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : So, is it permissible for them to pray behind him as followers, or should they each pray individually? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : I sense from your question that you have dismissed the seated imam as if he were a non-entity because he is seated. You have turned away from the question of whether the prayer behind him is valid or not, and directed your conversation toward this murderer and whether the prayer behind him is valid.
The questioner : It is the same person. The seated man entrusted me with the responsibility to ask this question.
The Shaykh : That is not important. I am telling you, I am telling you that what I understood from you is that he asked you this question.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And your conversation revolves around the imam who is not seated.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : But he is a murderer.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Correct?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I want to say, why don't they pray behind the seated imam? And it seems from your words that he is not a murderer.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So why don't they pray behind him? Because he is unable to stand, bow, or prostrate.
The questioner : Apart from the fact that he is in prison, which does not mean he is a permanent resident; he is not permanently in that place and may be transferred at any moment. So if he is transferred...
The questioner : Apart from the fact that he is... in prison, which does not mean he is a permanent resident; he is not permanently in that place and may be transferred at any moment. So if he is transferred...
The Shaykh : Before he is transferred, may Allah be pleased with you, before he is transferred, is he still there or not?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Why don't they pray behind him?
The questioner : They are currently praying behind him, but the question is if he is transferred, is it permissible? Before he is transferred, during the period...
The Shaykh : The question was not like that. The question was not, if he is transferred, who will pray there.
The questioner : They, if... the question...
The Shaykh : In any case, there is a benefit in the discussion. There is a benefit in clarifying the question, because what I understood is that the seated man is in prison, but because he is seated, they are questioning. And finally, I said he is questioning.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Is the prayer behind that physically sound murderer valid? That was the answer. I want to answer your question and what you did not ask. You asked about the validity of the prayer behind the murderer, and you did not ask about the validity of the prayer behind the seated man who is not a murderer. And when I drew your attention to it, you said this is possible, that he may be transferred.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : But before he is transferred, and as long as he is not a murderer, they should pray behind him. You will hear an answer that you and all the attendees may find strange, but it is a sound Sunnah. First: we must mention who is more deserving of leading the prayer, setting aside for now the seated man and the murderer. Do you see the Messenger (peace be upon him) saying:
The one who recites most of the Book of Allah is to lead the people (in prayers). If they are equal in recitation, then the most knowledgeable in the Sunnah among them. If they are equal regarding the Sunnah, then the earliest of them to emigrate. If they are equal in their emigration then the eldest among them.
يؤمُّ القومَ أقرَؤُهم لكتاب الله ؛ فإن كانوا في القراءة سواء فأعلَمُهم بالسنة ، فإن كانوا في السنة سواء فأقدمهم هجرة فأقدمهم هجرة ، فإن كانوا في الهجرة سواء فأكبَرُهم سنًّاThe people should be lead by the one who is most well-Versed in recitation of the Book of Allah
يؤمُّ القومَ أقرَؤُهم لكتاب اللهThe questioner : The seated man.
The Shaykh : The seated man. So inform the group that it is obligatory for them. Inform the seated man that it is obligatory for him, above all else, to lead the people there. If he is transferred, that is a different ruling. As long as he is there, he should lead them, in response to his saying (peace be upon him):
The people should be lead by the one who is most well-Versed in recitation of the Book of Allah
يؤمُّ القومَ أقرَؤُهم لكتاب اللهand stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.
وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَand stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.
وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَDo not precede me in bowing and prostrating; for I see you behind me as I see you in front of me.
لا تسبقوني بالركوع والسجود ؛ فإنِّي أراكم من خلفي كما أراكم من أماميYou nearly, just now, would have done what the Persians do with their great ones; they stand over the heads of their kings.
إن كِدْتُم آنفًا لَتفعَلُنَّ فعل فارس بعظمائها ؛ يقومونَ على رؤوسِ ملوكِهمThe Imam is appointed to be followed. When he says Allahu Akbar, then say Allahu Akbar; when he bows, then bow; when he says Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah, then say Rabbana wa lakal-hamd; when he prostrates then prostrate; and if he prays sitting down then pray sitting down.
إنما جُعِلَ الإمام لِيُؤتَمَّ به ، فإذا كبَّرَ فكبِّروا ، وإذا ركع فاركعوا ، وإذا قال سمع الله لِمَن حمده ؛ فقولوا : ربنا ولك الحمد ، وإذا سجد فاسجدوا ، وإذا صلى قائمًا فصلوا قيامًا ، وإذا صلى جالسًا فصلوا جلوسًا أجمعينand if he prays sitting down then all of you pray sitting down.
وإذا صلى جالسًا فصلوا جلوسًا أجمعينYes, Abu Ahmad.
The questioner : The woman's hijab.
The Shaykh : Not yet, not yet.
The questioner : .
The Shaykh : Not yet.
The questioner : He is still, O Shaykh, telling you what his role is now.
The Shaykh : So this seated imam in prison, may Allah free him from his prison, must lead the people. And it is up to you to convey this hadith to him.
The questioner : If Allah wills.
The Shaykh : And he, in turn, conveys it to those who pray behind him.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.