The ruling on praying behind an imam who has several errors and ignorance
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He also asks and says: We have a regular imam in our village mosque, but he intentionally leaves out some of the recommended practices of the prayer. For example, he refuses to fold his hands, and he refuses the second taslim, so he exits the prayer with just "Peace be upon you." Some of the brothers have advised him more than once, but he refused and said: "I am of the Maliki school; it is not permissible for me to fold my hands, nor is it permissible for me to say 'Peace and Allah's mercy upon you' to the right and to the left." Please inform us: is it permissible to pray behind him or not?
Answer: In any case, he must be advised and the people of knowledge must be consulted. The schools of jurisprudence are not binding on their followers. Following a scholar without knowing his evidence is not permissible; rather, it is obligatory for the believer and the student of knowledge to take hold of the truth. One should not argue by saying, "I am of the Maliki, Hanbali, Shafi'i, or Hanafi school." This is a great error on the part of the student of knowledge. Rather, it is obligatory for the student of knowledge to seek out the evidence and seek out the correct position so that he may act upon it. It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he folded his hands, and it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to say the taslim twice. So how is it permissible for a Muslim to contradict the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) because of the statement of Malik? It is not permissible for a sane Muslim to say this. Malik is one of the scholars; it is not permissible to take his statement if it contradicts the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The same applies to the statement of al-Shafi'i, Abu Hanifah, Ahmad, al-Thawri, al-Awza'i, or others. These are imams and scholars, may Allah be pleased with them and have mercy on them, but their statements are presented to the Book and the Sunnah. If they agree with them, they are taken because they agree with the truth. If they contradict them, the obligatory thing is to take the truth and act upon it, along with whoever said it. If the Shafi'i school agrees with the truth and you are a Maliki, you must take the statement of al-Shafi'i because it agrees with the truth. The same applies to the school of Ahmad and the school of Abu Hanifah. If it agrees with the truth, you take it and contradict the statement of Malik; because Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, calls for this and says: "None of us is free from being wrong and being contradicted, except the one in this grave."
And the rest of the imams all say: It is obligatory for the Muslim to accept the truth and take hold of it, and not to follow them in what contradicts the truth. This imam has erred and is ignorant, so he must review the truth and review the words of the people of knowledge. He must submit to those who advise him. He should say the taslim twice, and this is necessary. It is also prescribed for him to fold his hands, placing his right hand over his left palm on his chest. As for what Ibn al-Qasim transmitted from Malik regarding letting the hands hang down, some of the people of knowledge interpreted this as being due to what afflicted his hands and his inability to join them, or that he had an idea that was incorrect. Every imam has errors and mistakes. The Sunnah is the one protected from error, brought by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So it is obligatory to take hold of it whenever it is established, by the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) : [al-Nisa: 59], and by His saying (Mighty and Majestic): [al-Nisa: 65].
So my advice to this imam is to fear Allah and to return to the correct position. His prayer with him is valid; because he is one who interprets the texts, follows a scholar without knowing his evidence, and is ignorant in this issue. But if he straightens out and returns to the correct position, otherwise, strive to remove him and distance him because of his great error. He is not suitable for leading the prayer with this opinion and this blind following. And Allah is the One to be sought for help.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Answer: In any case, he must be advised and the people of knowledge must be consulted. The schools of jurisprudence are not binding on their followers. Following a scholar without knowing his evidence is not permissible; rather, it is obligatory for the believer and the student of knowledge to take hold of the truth. One should not argue by saying, "I am of the Maliki, Hanbali, Shafi'i, or Hanafi school." This is a great error on the part of the student of knowledge. Rather, it is obligatory for the student of knowledge to seek out the evidence and seek out the correct position so that he may act upon it. It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he folded his hands, and it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to say the taslim twice. So how is it permissible for a Muslim to contradict the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) because of the statement of Malik? It is not permissible for a sane Muslim to say this. Malik is one of the scholars; it is not permissible to take his statement if it contradicts the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The same applies to the statement of al-Shafi'i, Abu Hanifah, Ahmad, al-Thawri, al-Awza'i, or others. These are imams and scholars, may Allah be pleased with them and have mercy on them, but their statements are presented to the Book and the Sunnah. If they agree with them, they are taken because they agree with the truth. If they contradict them, the obligatory thing is to take the truth and act upon it, along with whoever said it. If the Shafi'i school agrees with the truth and you are a Maliki, you must take the statement of al-Shafi'i because it agrees with the truth. The same applies to the school of Ahmad and the school of Abu Hanifah. If it agrees with the truth, you take it and contradict the statement of Malik; because Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, calls for this and says: "None of us is free from being wrong and being contradicted, except the one in this grave."
And the rest of the imams all say: It is obligatory for the Muslim to accept the truth and take hold of it, and not to follow them in what contradicts the truth. This imam has erred and is ignorant, so he must review the truth and review the words of the people of knowledge. He must submit to those who advise him. He should say the taslim twice, and this is necessary. It is also prescribed for him to fold his hands, placing his right hand over his left palm on his chest. As for what Ibn al-Qasim transmitted from Malik regarding letting the hands hang down, some of the people of knowledge interpreted this as being due to what afflicted his hands and his inability to join them, or that he had an idea that was incorrect. Every imam has errors and mistakes. The Sunnah is the one protected from error, brought by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So it is obligatory to take hold of it whenever it is established, by the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) :
And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًاBut no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.
فَلا وَرَبِّكَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًاSo my advice to this imam is to fear Allah and to return to the correct position. His prayer with him is valid; because he is one who interprets the texts, follows a scholar without knowing his evidence, and is ignorant in this issue. But if he straightens out and returns to the correct position, otherwise, strive to remove him and distance him because of his great error. He is not suitable for leading the prayer with this opinion and this blind following. And Allah is the One to be sought for help.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.