◈ Accountability of the Imams
Reward for Correct Imamah and Burden for Mistakes
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"If the Imams lead the prayer well (fulfilling the pillars with calmness and observing the Sunnah), then there is reward for you and reward for them. But if they make mistakes (e.g., lack of tranquility in bowing and prostration, or absence of qawmah and jalsah), then there is reward for you (the followers) and the burden (of sin) is upon them."
(Bukhari, Adhan, Chapter: If the Imam Does Not Complete the Prayer But Those Behind Him Do, 694)
◈ Ruling on a Prayer Led by an Imam Without Wudu or in a State of Janabah
Imam al-Baghawi رحمه الله, explaining this Hadith, says:
"This Hadith proves that if an Imam leads the prayer without wudu or in a state of janabah, the prayer of the followers is valid, but the Imam must repeat his own prayer—whether he did it knowingly or out of ignorance."
Incident of Sayyiduna ‘Umar رضي الله عنه
Once Sayyiduna ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه led the Fajr prayer. After the prayer, he found traces of a wet dream on his clothes. He washed the impurity, performed ghusl, and repeated the prayer—
(Muwatta, Book of Purification, Chapter: A Junub Repeating the Prayer, 311)
—yet he did not instruct the followers to repeat their prayer.
◈ No Sujud al-Sahw for the Mistake of an Individual Follower
If an individual follower makes a mistake during the congregational prayer, sujud al-sahw is not obligatory upon him.
◈ The Imam’s Responsibility
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The Imam is responsible (guarantor) for the congregation, and the Mu’adhdhin is their trustee. O Allah, guide our Imams and forgive our callers to prayer."
(Abu Dawud, Prayer, What is Obligatory for the Mu’adhdhin in Observing the Time, 517)
Sayyiduna Sahl ibn Sa‘d al-Sa‘idi رضي الله عنه would appoint young men to lead the prayer. When asked why, he said:
"The Imam is a guarantor. If he leads the prayer correctly, he gets reward and so do the followers. If he does not pray correctly, the followers get the reward and he bears the sin."
(Ibn Majah, Establishing the Prayer, What is Obligatory Upon the Imam, 980)
◈ Prohibition of Forcing Imamah
Prayer of an Unwanted Imam is Rejected
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The prayer of three people is not accepted:
➊ The runaway slave until he returns to his master.
➋ A woman whose husband is angry with her while she spends the night away from him.
➌ A man who leads people in prayer while they dislike him."
(Tirmidhi, Prayer, Chapter: What Has Been Reported Regarding One Who Leads While People Dislike Him, 360)
Prayer of an Unwanted Imam Does Not Reach Allah
Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The prayer of three types of people is neither accepted nor raised to the heavens, nor does it go above their heads:
➊ A man who leads a people in prayer while they dislike him.
➋ A man who leads a funeral prayer without being asked to do so.
➌ A woman whose husband calls her at night and she refuses."
(Silsilah al-Ahadith al-Sahihah by al-Albani, 650)
◈ Removing a Sinner from Imamah
If a person has authority to appoint the Imam of a mosque, it is obligatory upon him to remove a sinful person from the position of Imamah.
The Prophet’s ﷺ Instruction
A companion used to lead his people in prayer. On one occasion, he spat in the direction of the Qiblah. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw this, and after the man finished praying, he said:
"This man must not lead you in prayer."
Later, when this companion tried to lead again, the people stopped him and told him what the Prophet ﷺ had said. When the matter was mentioned to the Prophet ﷺ, he said:
"Yes! You have offended Allah and His Messenger."
(Abu Dawud, Prayer, Disapproval of Spitting in the Mosque, 481)
◈ Ruling on Praying Behind a Fasiq Imam
Fatwa of Sayyiduna ‘Uthman رضي الله عنه
When Sayyiduna ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan رضي الله عنه was besieged, he was asked:
"The troublemakers are leading us in prayer. What should we do?"
He replied:
"Prayer is the best of people’s deeds. When they do good, then do good with them; and when they do evil, do not join them in their evil."
(Bukhari, Adhan, Chapter: The Imamah of a Trouble-Maker or an Innovator, 694)
Explanation by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله
Shaykh Muhammad al-Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:
"There is no doubt that praying behind someone who fears Allah more and is more observant of the religion is better than praying behind one who is negligent in his religion."
Innovators are of Two Types:
➊ Those whose innovation takes them to disbelief (kufr).
➋ Those whose innovation does not reach disbelief.
For the first type, prayer behind them is not permissible, as they are disbelievers and their prayer is not accepted by Allah; thus, they cannot be Imams for Muslims.
For the second type, there is a difference of opinion among scholars. The preferred view is that prayer behind them is permissible, except when leaving the prayer behind them serves a beneficial purpose—such as warning them so they may abandon their sinful ways.
(Fatawa Islamiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 389)
