Fatwa ID: 08143
Answered by: Maulana Sibghat Ullah
Question:
If the imam is a fasiq, may we pray behind him, or should we look for another masjid? If no other masjid is available, should we pray jamaat at home or alone?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Salah is one of the most important pillars of Islam, and for men, praying in congregation is highly rewarding. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“If there are three men in a village or in the desert among whom prayer is not offered in congregation, the devil has got the mastery over them. So, observe prayer in congregation, for the wolf eats only the straggling animal.”[1]
We can see the importance of congregation, but it is best not to pray behind an imam who is a fasiq, especially if his sin is major and public.[2] This is because it is important that the imam is upright in his religious practice and conduct.
However, it will still be valid to pray behind such an imam, and the prayer remains valid. This is because the validity of the prayer is not void just because the imam is a sinner, as long as the imam’s actions do not invalidate the prayer itself (such as words or actions of the prayer, etc.).[2]
It is recommended to find another masjid where an imam is pious and righteous to lead the prayer.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by: Maulana Sibghat Ullah
Checked and approved by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زَائِدَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا السَّائِبُ بْنُ حُبَيْشٍ، عَنْ مَعْدَانَ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ الْيَعْمُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ” مَا مِنْ ثَلاَثَةٍ فِي قَرْيَةٍ وَلاَ بَدْوٍ لاَ تُقَامُ فِيهِمُ الصَّلاَةُ إِلاَّ قَدِ اسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَعَلَيْكَ بِالْجَمَاعَةِ فَإِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُ الذِّئْبُ الْقَاصِيَةَ ” . قَالَ زَائِدَةُ قَالَ السَّائِبُ يَعْنِي بِالْجَمَاعَةِ الصَّلاَةَ فِي الْجَمَاعَةِ .
Sunan Abu Dawud (https://sunnah.com) b.2 no.157 (547)
[2]
وَفِي الْفَاسِقِ لِلْأَوَّلِ لِظُهُورِ تَسَاهُلِهِ فِي الطَّهَارَةِ وَنَحْوِهَا وَفِي الدِّرَايَةِ قَالَ أَصْحَابُنَا: لَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُقْتَدَى بِالْفَاسِقِ إلَّا فِي الْجُمُعَةِ لِأَنَّ فِي غَيْرِهَا يَجِدُ إمَامًا غَيْرَهُ اهـ. يَعْنِي أَنَّهُ فِي غَيْرِ الْجُمُعَةِ بِسَبِيلٍ مِنْ أَنْ يَتَحَوَّلَ إلَى مَسْجِدٍ آخَرَ وَلَا يَأْثَمُ فِي ذَلِكَ، ذَكَرَهُ فِي الْخُلَاصَةِ. وَعَلَى هَذَا فَيُكْرَهُ فِي الْجُمُعَةِ إذَا تَعَدَّدَتْ إقَامَتُهَا فِي الْمِصْرِ عَلَى قَوْلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَهُوَ الْمُفْتَى بِهِ لِأَنَّهُ بِسَبِيلٍ مِنْ التَّحَوُّلِ حِينَئِذٍ. وَفِي الْمُحِيطِ: لَوْ صَلَّى خَلْفَ فَاسِقٍ أَوْ مُبْتَدِعٍ أَحْرَزَ ثَوَابَ الْجَمَاعَةِ، لَكِنْ لَا يُحْرِزُ ثَوَابَ الْمُصَلِّي خَلْفَ تَقِيٍّ اهـ
Al-Fataawa Al-Hindiyyah, Daar Al-Fikr, 1892. Vol.5 p.350. Accessed via al-Maktabah al-Shamela [https://shamela.ws/book/21744/348#p1].
الْفَاسِقُ إذَا كَانَ يَؤُمُّ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَعَجَزَ الْقَوْمُ عَنْ مَنْعِهِ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ يُقْتَدَى بِهِ فِي الْجُمُعَةِ وَلَا تُتْرَكُ الْجُمُعَةُ بِإِمَامَتِهِ وَفِي غَيْرِ الْجُمُعَةِ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَتَحَوَّلَ إلَى مَسْجِدٍ آخَرَ وَلَا يَأْتَمَّ بِهِ. هَكَذَا فِي الظَّهِيرِيَّةِ
Kitab Fath Al-Qadeer, Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, 1970. Vol.1 p.86. Accessed via al-Maktabah al-Shamela [https://shamela.ws/book/21640/85#p1].
لَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَقْتَدِيَ بِالْفَاسِقِ إلَّا فِي الْجُمُعَةِ لِأَنَّهُ فِي غَيْرِهَا يَجِدُ إمَامًا غَيْرَهُ
Radd Al-Muhtaar, Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, 1966. Vol.1 p.560. Accessed via al-Maktabah al-Shamela [https://shamela.ws/book/21613/555#p1].