The Ruling on Following an Imam Who Shaves His Beard and One Who Takes a Wage for Leading the Prayer
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Question:
A letter reached the program from the listener 'Atiyyah Ibrahim Suwailim from the Arab Republic of Egypt. The brother 'Atiyyah has a collection of questions, one of which says: Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who shaves his beard and lets his garment hang below the ankles? And likewise behind an imam who wears trousers and a shirt? And is it permissible to pray behind an imam who takes a wage for preaching, for leading the prayer, and for guiding people, if he finds no source of livelihood other than this? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The prayer behind these people is valid, provided that each one of them is a Muslim, but he has this sin. So if he shaves his beard, or lets his garment hang below the ankles, this is a sin, and sin does not prevent the validity of the prayer. The prayer is valid, and the prayer of those behind him is valid. However, it is prescribed for the authorities to replace him, and not to appoint in the position of imam except one who is known for good and apparent uprightness; because he is a role model.
As for the prayer, it is valid behind one who shaves his beard, or lets his garment hang below the ankles, or takes a wage for his performance of the imamate from the endowments, or from the people of the town to help him with his needs and his household affairs. There is nothing wrong with this, and his prayer is valid, and there is no blame on him in taking assistance from the public treasury, or from his Muslim brothers, so that he can perform the prayer for them and take care of their mosque; because this helps him in the obedience of Allah. But if he is able to dispense with it, because he is wealthy, praise be to Allah. And taking from the public treasury is a right for the Muslims, and if they perform the duties, that becomes assistance for them in their works, whether it is leading the prayer, the call to prayer, judging, or otherwise.
He repeats his question as well.
The presenter: He says: Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who shaves his beard and lets his garment hang below the ankles, and likewise behind an imam who wears trousers and a shirt? And is it permissible to pray behind an imam who takes a wage for preaching and guiding people if he finds no source of livelihood other than this?
The Shaykh: Yes, it has been mentioned that this does not prevent the validity of the prayer. And likewise, one who wears trousers, if it covers the 'awrah, then his prayer is valid. And if the trousers involve imitating the disbelievers, and it is part of their attire, then it is not permissible for him to wear it, but the prayer is valid. As for if it is a shared garment, a garment shared between Muslims and others, then there is no blame on him in that. And Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) prayed behind al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi, who was among the most unjust of people and the most severe in sin. And the rule is: the sinner’s prayer is valid for himself, and his imamate is valid.
As for the disbeliever, no. If he is a disbeliever, his imamate is not valid, and the prayer behind him is not valid if you know that he is a disbeliever. As for the sinner, there is no blame in that, but he should be replaced... It is prescribed for those responsible for the imamate not to appoint in the imamate except one who is known for good and whose appearance is upright; because he is followed as a model. And one whose appearance is sinful, such as shaving beards, or letting garments hang below the ankles, or the like, should not be appointed. And it is obligatory to advise the one who does that. It is obligatory for his brothers to advise him and direct him to good so that he becomes upright, whether he is an imam or not. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
A letter reached the program from the listener 'Atiyyah Ibrahim Suwailim from the Arab Republic of Egypt. The brother 'Atiyyah has a collection of questions, one of which says: Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who shaves his beard and lets his garment hang below the ankles? And likewise behind an imam who wears trousers and a shirt? And is it permissible to pray behind an imam who takes a wage for preaching, for leading the prayer, and for guiding people, if he finds no source of livelihood other than this? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The prayer behind these people is valid, provided that each one of them is a Muslim, but he has this sin. So if he shaves his beard, or lets his garment hang below the ankles, this is a sin, and sin does not prevent the validity of the prayer. The prayer is valid, and the prayer of those behind him is valid. However, it is prescribed for the authorities to replace him, and not to appoint in the position of imam except one who is known for good and apparent uprightness; because he is a role model.
As for the prayer, it is valid behind one who shaves his beard, or lets his garment hang below the ankles, or takes a wage for his performance of the imamate from the endowments, or from the people of the town to help him with his needs and his household affairs. There is nothing wrong with this, and his prayer is valid, and there is no blame on him in taking assistance from the public treasury, or from his Muslim brothers, so that he can perform the prayer for them and take care of their mosque; because this helps him in the obedience of Allah. But if he is able to dispense with it, because he is wealthy, praise be to Allah. And taking from the public treasury is a right for the Muslims, and if they perform the duties, that becomes assistance for them in their works, whether it is leading the prayer, the call to prayer, judging, or otherwise.
He repeats his question as well.
The presenter: He says: Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who shaves his beard and lets his garment hang below the ankles, and likewise behind an imam who wears trousers and a shirt? And is it permissible to pray behind an imam who takes a wage for preaching and guiding people if he finds no source of livelihood other than this?
The Shaykh: Yes, it has been mentioned that this does not prevent the validity of the prayer. And likewise, one who wears trousers, if it covers the 'awrah, then his prayer is valid. And if the trousers involve imitating the disbelievers, and it is part of their attire, then it is not permissible for him to wear it, but the prayer is valid. As for if it is a shared garment, a garment shared between Muslims and others, then there is no blame on him in that. And Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) prayed behind al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi, who was among the most unjust of people and the most severe in sin. And the rule is: the sinner’s prayer is valid for himself, and his imamate is valid.
As for the disbeliever, no. If he is a disbeliever, his imamate is not valid, and the prayer behind him is not valid if you know that he is a disbeliever. As for the sinner, there is no blame in that, but he should be replaced... It is prescribed for those responsible for the imamate not to appoint in the imamate except one who is known for good and whose appearance is upright; because he is followed as a model. And one whose appearance is sinful, such as shaving beards, or letting garments hang below the ankles, or the like, should not be appointed. And it is obligatory to advise the one who does that. It is obligatory for his brothers to advise him and direct him to good so that he becomes upright, whether he is an imam or not. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.