Question

Al-Salaam 'Alaykum

Dear Respected Scholars of Islam,

What is the Shar'i ruling regarding Zayd, a Sunni Imam, who prays Salah behind a Tafzili and invites him to his gatherings whilst knowing of his bad beliefs. Is praying Salah behind such an Imam permissible?

Answer

Wa alaykum as salam

There is a unanimous agreement (ijma’) of the entire Ahl al-Sunnah that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar are superior to Mawla Ali [Mulla Ali al-Qari in Minah al-Rawd al-Azhar and Sharh Fiqh al-Akbar; Allamah Taftazani in Sharh al-Maqasid; Imam Ahmad Rida in Fatawa Ridawiyyah vol 28]. The scholars have, therefore, stipulated that whosoever gives Mawla Ali superiority over Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar (ie the tafdilliyah), he is an innovator and a heretic, and as a result, salah behind him is prohibitively disliked.

It is in Khulasah al-Fatawa, Fath al-Qadir, Bahr al-Rayiq, al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah and numerous other books, that he who gives Ali superiority over Abu Bakr and Umar is an innovator and a heretic.

It is stated in Gunyah al-Mustamli and Radd al-Muhtar that salah behind an innovator or heretic is disliked in every case and it is in Rasayil al-Arkan that salah behind the tafdilis is severely disliked [karahatun shadidatun]. As a result, praying salah behind the tafdilis is makruh e tahrimi (prohibitively disliked), so that to pray behind them is sinful and to repeat it is necessary (wajib) [Fatawa Ridawiyyah 6/622].

Therefore, the Imam who prays behind tafdilis and invites them to gatherings while knowing their beliefs, salah behind him is also disliked.

And Allah knows best
Muhammad Kalim
22 Ramadan 1438

Verified by Mufti Zahid Hussain al-Qadiri

Question

اَلسّلامُ عَلیْکُم و رَحْمَۃُ اللّٰہِ و بَرَکا تُہ

Hope you are in the best of health.

I am currently at university and we have an Islamic society (isoc) here it is run by wahabis/salafis/najdis, they have jamaat salah which is usually led by students, I don't know whether the ones leading the salah are of the same sect but I have doubts that they are. Is it permissible for me to read behind them or shall I read by myself, and then will I also read tarawih alone.
Please shed some light.

جزاك اللهُ خيرًا

Answer

Wa alaykum as salam

It is important to know whether the Imam is a deviant or not, especially when there is a high possibility that he may well be a deviant, such as in your case.

It is stated in Fatawa Ridawiyyah:

“It is necessary [to confirm the Imam’s aqidah] if there is a possibility of doubt, such as when you have heard from someone that the Imam is a wahabi; even if the person informing you is not righteous but only mastur (a person whose apparent state is in accordance with the Shari'ah but his real state unknown), [in such a case] to investigate is still necessary – or if the area is of [for example] wahabis, then investigate [as to whether he is indeed]. If there is no reason for doubt, then pray salah [behind the Imam] and if it is later proven that he was, for example, a wahabi, then repetition is obligatory.” [Fatawa Ridawiyyah 6/617]

Based on this, because the society is run mainly by deviant sects, the possibility of the Imam being a deviant is high. You should, therefore, investigate and confirm the aqidah of the Imam before praying behind him. If after investigation, you come to know that the Imam is indeed a wahabi, then do not pray behind him, because salah behind the people of deviance is not permissible [Fath al-Qadir 1/304].

And Allah knows best
Muhammad Kalim
22 Ramadan 1438

Verified by Mufti Zahid Hussain al-Qadiri