Is the prayer valid behind an innovator imam?

Question:
This is a questioner for the program. The questioner from Kenya, Sa'd Ahmad, says, "Your brother in Allah, he says, O His Eminence the Shaykh: Is the prayer valid behind an imam who is an innovator and engages in sorcery and magic? And what is the ruling on praying behind this imam if we have prayed behind him for several prayers?"

Answer:
If his innovation takes him out of the religion, the prayer is not valid. But if his innovation does not take him out of the religion—it is a blameworthy innovation, but it does not make him a disbeliever, such as the innovation of the Mawlid, or the innovation of verbalizing the intention in prayer—then there is no blame on him in praying behind him. However, he should be replaced by someone else; one should work to find someone else from the people of the Sunnah. But the prayer behind him is valid if he has not been declared a disbeliever.
As for if the innovation makes him a disbeliever, such as the innovation of supplicating to other than Allah, calling for aid from other than Allah, making vows for other than Allah, or slaughtering for other than Allah, one does not pray behind him because he is one who associates partners with Allah. One does not pray behind him. But the sinner whose innovation is a sin that does not make him a disbeliever, if one prays behind him, the prayer is valid. However, he should be replaced by someone else, seeking someone else from the people of the Sunnah.