The ruling on praying behind one who shaves his beard

Question:
Is it permissible to pray behind one who shaves his beard? And what is the ruling on shaving parts of the beard, such as the cheeks, for example?

Answer:
As for his being an imam: it is not permissible to appoint him as an imam if he shaves his beard, is an innovator, or openly displays sins. It is not permissible to appoint him as an imam; rather, one should seek out a person of goodness and righteousness to be the imam. However, if people are afflicted with him and he becomes the imam in the mosque, they should pray behind him, and the prayer is valid according to the correct opinion of the scholars. The prayer behind him is valid if people are afflicted with him, but it is not permissible to appoint him as an imam, nor is it permissible to leave him in that position. Rather, efforts should be made to remove him and to appoint someone better than him.