The ruling on an imam imposing himself as the imam
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
This is a question sent by the listener Zakariyya Faraj Mas'ud, from As-Saloom, the Arab Republic of Egypt. He says: We have a man who leads us in prayer and imposes himself on us without consulting anyone about the matter, even though there are people behind him who are better at reciting the Qur'an than he is and more knowledgeable about the Sunnah than he is. What is the ruling on praying behind this man?
Answer:
It is obligatory for this man not to impose himself on the people. Rather, he should consult them. If they want him, he leads them; if they do not want him, he steps aside. It is also obligatory for him to assess the people behind him. If the people behind him are better at reciting and more knowledgeable than he is, it is obligatory that they be placed ahead of him. This is because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 673a And in another narration: .
It is not permissible for him to impose himself on them. Rather, it is obligatory for him to leave this matter to their consultation. If the prominent members of the congregation and their distinguished ones see fit to place him ahead, he leads. If they see fit to place someone else ahead of him who is more knowledgeable in fiqh or better at reciting, that is what is more appropriate and better. He has no right to impose himself on the people.
If the mosque has an official from the Waqf (endowment) or from other than the Waqf, then it is that official who looks into the matter. The Waqf looks into it, or the official in charge of the mosque, who is its agent or its maintainer, because he is the one who built it and maintained it.
The point is: if there is an official, the official looks into the matter. If there is no official, the congregation looks into the matter and chooses the one who is best in his religion and his mindfulness of Allah, and best in his knowledge and his recitation. They should not accept anyone imposing himself on them. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh: The prayer is valid. The prayer is valid if he prays with them, but he is in danger. This is because a warning was issued regarding the one who leads a people who are averse to him. Therefore, he should not lead a people who are averse to him. He is in danger. The prayer is valid, but he has put himself at risk. He should be cautious and stay away from such a matter unless with the consent of the congregation and their placing him ahead. Yes.
This is a question sent by the listener Zakariyya Faraj Mas'ud, from As-Saloom, the Arab Republic of Egypt. He says: We have a man who leads us in prayer and imposes himself on us without consulting anyone about the matter, even though there are people behind him who are better at reciting the Qur'an than he is and more knowledgeable about the Sunnah than he is. What is the ruling on praying behind this man?
Answer:
It is obligatory for this man not to impose himself on the people. Rather, he should consult them. If they want him, he leads them; if they do not want him, he steps aside. It is also obligatory for him to assess the people behind him. If the people behind him are better at reciting and more knowledgeable than he is, it is obligatory that they be placed ahead of him. This is because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The one who is most versed in Allah's Book should act as Imam for the people, but If they are equally versed in reciting it, then the one who has most knowledge regarding Sunnah if they are equal regarding the Sunnah, then the earliest one to emigrate; it they emigrated at the same time, then the earliest one to embrace Islam.
يؤم القوم أقرؤهم لكتاب الله، فإن كانوا في القراءة سواء، فأعلمهم بالسنة، فإن كانوا في السنة سواء، فأقدمهم هجرة، فإن كانوا في الهجرة سواء، فأقدمهم سلمًاIn another narration: ...
سنًاIt is not permissible for him to impose himself on them. Rather, it is obligatory for him to leave this matter to their consultation. If the prominent members of the congregation and their distinguished ones see fit to place him ahead, he leads. If they see fit to place someone else ahead of him who is more knowledgeable in fiqh or better at reciting, that is what is more appropriate and better. He has no right to impose himself on the people.
If the mosque has an official from the Waqf (endowment) or from other than the Waqf, then it is that official who looks into the matter. The Waqf looks into it, or the official in charge of the mosque, who is its agent or its maintainer, because he is the one who built it and maintained it.
The point is: if there is an official, the official looks into the matter. If there is no official, the congregation looks into the matter and chooses the one who is best in his religion and his mindfulness of Allah, and best in his knowledge and his recitation. They should not accept anyone imposing himself on them. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh: The prayer is valid. The prayer is valid if he prays with them, but he is in danger. This is because a warning was issued regarding the one who leads a people who are averse to him. Therefore, he should not lead a people who are averse to him. He is in danger. The prayer is valid, but he has put himself at risk. He should be cautious and stay away from such a matter unless with the consent of the congregation and their placing him ahead. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.