The Ruling on Praying Behind an Innovator and One Who Seeks Nearness Through Shrines
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
If the mosque in the village where I pray has an imam who leans toward religious innovation and seeks nearness to Allah through domes and shrines, is it permissible to pray behind him, given that the other mosques are far from me?
Answer:
If his outward appearance indicates shirk (associating partners with Allah), and he calls upon the dead and seeks aid from the dead, he should not be followed in prayer.
As for merely saying, “By the right of so-and-so,” this is a religious innovation, not major shirk. But if he calls upon the dead, seeks aid from the dead, and makes vows to them, he is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah), and he should not be followed in prayer.
You must pray with the people, even if they are far away. You should seek help from Allah and pray with the people of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and faith, or strive to remove him until a righteous imam is found. You and your brothers should strive to remove him and appoint a righteous imam: [Al-Talaq:2].
Q: For example, a shaykh who shaves his beard?
The Shaykh: No, shaving the beard is a sin, but there is no harm in praying behind him. If it is easy to find someone from among the people of good to take his place, they should be sought. But shirk is not acceptable—may Allah keep us safe from it.
If the mosque in the village where I pray has an imam who leans toward religious innovation and seeks nearness to Allah through domes and shrines, is it permissible to pray behind him, given that the other mosques are far from me?
Answer:
If his outward appearance indicates shirk (associating partners with Allah), and he calls upon the dead and seeks aid from the dead, he should not be followed in prayer.
As for merely saying, “By the right of so-and-so,” this is a religious innovation, not major shirk. But if he calls upon the dead, seeks aid from the dead, and makes vows to them, he is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah), and he should not be followed in prayer.
You must pray with the people, even if they are far away. You should seek help from Allah and pray with the people of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and faith, or strive to remove him until a righteous imam is found. You and your brothers should strive to remove him and appoint a righteous imam:
And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out
وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًاQ: For example, a shaykh who shaves his beard?
The Shaykh: No, shaving the beard is a sin, but there is no harm in praying behind him. If it is easy to find someone from among the people of good to take his place, they should be sought. But shirk is not acceptable—may Allah keep us safe from it.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.