The Ruling on Praying Behind an Imam Who Practices Sorcery
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Question:
Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who practices sorcery and is a false messiah, knowing that some of them are skilled at reciting the Qur'an? Please guide us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
If the imam is a sorcerer who claims knowledge of the unseen or engages in superstitions and evil deeds, it is not permissible to appoint him as an imam, nor to pray behind him. This is because one who claims knowledge of the unseen is a disbeliever. We ask Allah for safety. Allah, Exalted and Majestic is He, says: [Surat al-Naml: 65]. Likewise, the ruling on one who practices sorcery is the ruling of disbelievers, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:102] the verse [Surat al-Baqarah: 102].
As for if he has some sins but does not have any acts of disbelief, such as sorcery or claiming knowledge of the unseen, but only has some sins, then the prayer behind him is valid. However, it is better to seek someone else from among the people of justice and uprightness, as a precaution for the religion and to avoid the disagreement of scholars who say that it is not permissible to pray behind him.
As for sinners, it is not recommended to appoint them as imams. But if they are found as imams, the prayer behind them is valid, because people may be tested with them, and there may be a need to pray behind them.
As for one who calls upon other than Allah, or seeks aid from the dead, or calls out to them for help, one does not pray behind him, because by this action he becomes among the disbelievers, for this is the action of the polytheists whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fought in Makkah and elsewhere. We ask Allah to rectify the condition of the Muslims and to grant them understanding in the religion, and to appoint the best of them over them. Indeed, He is All-Hearing, Near.
Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who practices sorcery and is a false messiah, knowing that some of them are skilled at reciting the Qur'an? Please guide us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
If the imam is a sorcerer who claims knowledge of the unseen or engages in superstitions and evil deeds, it is not permissible to appoint him as an imam, nor to pray behind him. This is because one who claims knowledge of the unseen is a disbeliever. We ask Allah for safety. Allah, Exalted and Majestic is He, says:
Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah
قُلْ لَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُAnd they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, "We are a trial, so do not disbelieve
وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْAs for if he has some sins but does not have any acts of disbelief, such as sorcery or claiming knowledge of the unseen, but only has some sins, then the prayer behind him is valid. However, it is better to seek someone else from among the people of justice and uprightness, as a precaution for the religion and to avoid the disagreement of scholars who say that it is not permissible to pray behind him.
As for sinners, it is not recommended to appoint them as imams. But if they are found as imams, the prayer behind them is valid, because people may be tested with them, and there may be a need to pray behind them.
As for one who calls upon other than Allah, or seeks aid from the dead, or calls out to them for help, one does not pray behind him, because by this action he becomes among the disbelievers, for this is the action of the polytheists whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fought in Makkah and elsewhere. We ask Allah to rectify the condition of the Muslims and to grant them understanding in the religion, and to appoint the best of them over them. Indeed, He is All-Hearing, Near.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.