Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Bāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 158
Question:
In my neighborhood, there is no Ahl al-Ḥadīth mosque, but there is a nearby Deobandi mosque. The issue is that they pray in congregation quite late, which makes it difficult for me to catch the prayer in congregation. If I pray there behind their imām, will my prayer be valid?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“After me, there will be rulers who will delay the prayer.”
A Companion رضي الله عنه asked: “In such a situation, what should we do?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“Pray the ṣalāh at its (prescribed) time, and if you find their congregation, then join it as well; it will be counted as nafl for you.”
(Muslim – Kitāb al-Masājid, Bāb Karāhiyat Taʾkhīr al-Ṣalāh ʿan Waqtihā al-Mukhtār; Abū Dāwūd – Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Idhā Akhara al-Imām al-Ṣalāh ʿan al-Waqt)
Ruling on the Imāmah of One Involved in Shirk:
If a person is engaged in shirk, then ṣalāh behind him is not valid, even if he outwardly identifies as Ahl al-Ḥadīth.
Note: Accepting statements contrary to Qurʾān and Sunnah is considered taqlīd, and such blind following falls under the category of shirk.
Allah Almighty said:
﴿ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ أَحۡبَارَهُمۡ وَرُهۡبَٰنَهُمۡ أَرۡبَابٗا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ…﴾
“They took their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah…”
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam bi-ṣ-ṣawāb.
