✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
◈ Ruling on Offering Prayer Behind an Innovator or a Sinner
If the innovation (Bid‘ah) reaches the level of disbelief (Kufr) or polytheism (Shirk), then the ruling upon such an individual is the same as that of a polytheist. However, if it does not reach that level, then a person involved in innovation or a sinner should not be appointed as a permanent Imam.
Nevertheless, if due to some necessity one ends up offering prayer behind such a person on occasion, the prayer will still be valid.
This falls under the same ruling as offering prayer behind a Fāsiq (open sinner), and prayer behind such a person is valid.
(Imam Al-Shawkani رحمه الله) preferred this view.
📚 References: [As-Sayl al-Jarrār: 1/247], [Nayl al-Awtār: 2/423]
