The Ruling on Praying Behind One Who Calls Upon the Dead and Rubs Against Their Graves

The question: The first message in this episode came from Abdul Qadir Abdullah Musa, a resident of Kuwait from Sudan. Brother Abdul Qadir says in his message: There is a mosque imam in one of the villages who visits the domes and asks the dead owners of those domes for benefit and the bringing of good, and he also wears veils and seeks blessing from the stones on the shrines. The question is: Is it permissible to pray behind him? And if the answer is no, what should we do, considering that there is no other mosque? Please advise us, may Allah reward you with good?
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
As for the answer: One of the conditions for being an imam is that the imam must be a Muslim. The scholars differed on whether it is required that he be righteous, or whether it is valid to pray behind an open sinner, with two opinions among the scholars. The correct view is that it is valid to pray behind an open sinner if he is a Muslim, but he should not be appointed if there is someone else available. Rather, the authorities should strive to ensure that the imam is a Muslim who is righteous, has a good conduct, and does good deeds, because people follow his example. As for one who visits graves to call upon their inhabitants other than Allah, to seek their aid, to rub against their graves, and to ask them for the healing of the sick and victory over enemies, this person is not a Muslim. He is one who associates partners with Allah, because calling upon the dead, seeking aid from the dead, and making vows to them are types of disbelief in Allah. Therefore, it is not permissible to appoint him as an imam or to pray behind him. If the Muslims do not find another mosque, they should pray before him or after him. They should pray in the mosque where he prays, but either after him or before him. If it is possible to remove him from his position, it is obligatory to remove him. If it is not possible, then the Muslims should wait for these people to finish their prayer and then pray after them, or they should precede them when the time enters and pray before them if that is possible. If they cannot do so, they should pray in their homes: [Surat al-Taghabun: 16].
It is necessary for this imam to be made aware of this and guided to the truth, because he is in need of being called to Allah. A Muslim advises Muslims and advises others, calling them to Allah. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said to 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) when he sent him to Khaybar: , and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , and Allah the Exalted says: [Surat al-Fussilat: 33], and He the Exalted says: [Surat Yusuf: 108], and He the Exalted says: [Surat al-Nahl: 125]. So this imam is to be called to Allah, directed to good, and made to know that his work is invalid and that it is shirk (associating partners with Allah), using good methods, gentleness, and wisdom, so that perhaps he may be guided, so that perhaps he may accept the truth. If that is not possible, then one should contact the person responsible for the mosque, whether from the endowments or otherwise, and explain to them that this imam is not suitable, and that it is obligatory to remove him and appoint in the mosque a man who is a monotheist, a believer, and a Muslim, so that the people do not disperse from the mosque and so that a disbeliever does not lead them in prayer. This is the obligation upon Muslims: to cooperate in this good, to advise the rulers, and to advise this ignorant imam so that perhaps he may be guided. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you, and may Allah reward you with good.