The ruling on praying behind one who shaves his beard
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The second question in the letter from the brother (N. M.) from the city of al-Ramadi says: What is the ruling on one who prays behind an imam who shaves his beard? Is the prayer of the follower valid or not? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good.
Answer: The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed regarding praying behind an imam who is an open sinner due to sins, such as one who deals in usury or one known for some of the major sins, such as undutifulness to parents, severing family ties, giving false testimony, and the like. They differed on whether the prayer behind them is valid, with two positions among the scholars of knowledge. The correct position is that the prayer behind them is valid; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding the rulers:Sunan ad-Daraqutni 6:46 and he did not order them to repeat the prayer behind them, even though among them were open sinners and others.
And because the Companions, such as Ibn 'Umar, prayed behind al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi, the governor of Iraq, who was among the most sinful and most unjust of people.
So the correct position is that the prayer behind an open sinner is valid, but not behind a disbeliever. Behind a disbeliever known for his disbelief, such as one who insults the religion, or one who attaches himself to the dead and calls upon them instead of Allah, or the like of these types of disbelief, one does not pray behind him. As for the open sinner, who is a Muslim who disobeys, the prayer behind him is valid. One who shaves his beard is among these open sinners. If he persists in it and does not repent, he is among the open sinners, meaning among the disobedient, so the prayer behind him is valid. However, it should not be that he is taken as an imam. It should be that the responsible parties seek an imam who is better than him, if they are able, so that the people are not led in prayer except by their best. We ask Allah for the Muslims well-being and safety. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Answer: The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed regarding praying behind an imam who is an open sinner due to sins, such as one who deals in usury or one known for some of the major sins, such as undutifulness to parents, severing family ties, giving false testimony, and the like. They differed on whether the prayer behind them is valid, with two positions among the scholars of knowledge. The correct position is that the prayer behind them is valid; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding the rulers:
They pray for you, so if they do well, it is for you and for them, and if they do wrong, it is for you and upon them.
يصلون لكم فإن أحسنوا فلكم ولهم وإن أساءوا فلكم وعليهمAnd because the Companions, such as Ibn 'Umar, prayed behind al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi, the governor of Iraq, who was among the most sinful and most unjust of people.
So the correct position is that the prayer behind an open sinner is valid, but not behind a disbeliever. Behind a disbeliever known for his disbelief, such as one who insults the religion, or one who attaches himself to the dead and calls upon them instead of Allah, or the like of these types of disbelief, one does not pray behind him. As for the open sinner, who is a Muslim who disobeys, the prayer behind him is valid. One who shaves his beard is among these open sinners. If he persists in it and does not repent, he is among the open sinners, meaning among the disobedient, so the prayer behind him is valid. However, it should not be that he is taken as an imam. It should be that the responsible parties seek an imam who is better than him, if they are able, so that the people are not led in prayer except by their best. We ask Allah for the Muslims well-being and safety. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.