Fatwa ID: 01442
Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Question:
Praying Salah behind a misguided person (from the people of Bidah)
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.
To perform Salah behind an open sinner or a misguided person (i.e. from the people of Bidah) is severely disliked (Makruh Tahrimi). (Raddul Muhtar p.299 v.2)
In putting forward an open sinner or a misguided person for leading the prayer is showing him great respect, which may be a cause to gain the anger of Allah. The Imam is an intermediate between the servant and Allah, thus one should try to pray his Salah behind a pious, God fearing Imam. (Raddul Muhtar p.301 v.2)
An additional point to remember is that if a person did read behind such an imam, it will not be necessary to repeat the salah.
Mufti Habibur Rahman, a senior mufti of Darul Uloom Deoband gives the following reasons why a person would not need to repeat his salah:
-
The Prophet of Allah
has said: “Read salah behind every pious person and transgressor.” (Surah Abu Dawud p.95 v.1)
-
When the insurgents (Baghee’s) surrounded Saaiduna Uthman
’s house. The sahabas continued to read their salah behind them.
- There is a possibility that by not reading behind such an imam it might cause fitnah or differences in the community and Islam has prohibited from creating fitnah.
- It is not mentioned in any hadith, that such a salah that has been performed with severe detestability (Makruh Tahrimi) has to be repeated. The ruling written by Allahmah Ibn Abedeen Shami (RA) “Every salah which is performed with detestability has to be repeated.” (Raddul Muhtar p.147 v.2) Applies where the salah has become Makruh by missing one of the obligatory (wajib) actions of salah. (Masaail Imamat p.141)
Only Allah Knows Best
Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
