The Ruling on Praying Behind One Who Visits the Graves of the Righteous

Question:
What is the ruling on praying behind one who visits the graves of the righteous to seek blessing from them, and recites the Qur'an at mawlid celebrations and the like for a fee?

Answer:
This requires a detailed explanation. If it is merely celebrating the mawlid without shirk (associating partners with Allah), then he is an innovator. He should not be an imam, but his prayer is valid.
As for if he calls upon the dead, seeks aid from the dead, and invokes them, saying: “O Messenger of Allah, O so-and-so, O my master al-Badawi, O my master Husayn, O so-and-so, help, help, O my master Abdul Qadir,” then he is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah). One does not pray behind him—may Allah grant us safety.
As for if it is a bid'ah (religious innovation), where he attends the mawlid but does not commit shirk, or he recites the Qur'an at the graves but does not commit shirk, then he has a bid'ah. He should be informed and guided, and his prayer is valid.