Reference: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 492
If a Ḥāfiẓ of the Qur’an does not perform the five daily prayers regularly, but during Ramadan he prays consistently and leads Tarawih, can such a person be appointed as the Imam of Tarawih? Also, he always keeps his hair in a Western style.
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
A person who is negligent in performing the obligatory prayers and maintains an un-Islamic style in appearance is not suitable for the lofty position of Imāmah. The role of Imam is an extremely significant and sacred responsibility. Even a pious and practicing Muslim can be removed from Imāmah for a small inappropriate act during Salah, such as spitting towards the Qiblah.
First Ḥadīth
Narrated by al-Sā’ib bin Khallād:
A man led the people in prayer and spat towards the Qiblah while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was watching. When he completed the Salah, the Prophet ﷺ said: “This man shall no longer lead you in prayer.” Later, when he attempted to lead again, people stopped him and told him what the Prophet ﷺ had said. When this was mentioned to the Prophet ﷺ, he confirmed: “Yes, you have harmed Allah and His Messenger.”
(Abū Dāwūd, ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd, Vol. 1, p. 181; Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 3, p. 186)
Second Ḥadīth
ʿAbdullāh bin ʿAmr (رضي الله عنه) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ appointed a man to lead the people in Ẓuhr prayer. He spat towards the Qiblah during prayer. The Prophet ﷺ then replaced him with another Imam for ʿAṣr prayer. When the man, distressed, came to the Prophet ﷺ, he said: “You spat before you while leading the people, and thereby harmed Allah and His angels.”
(Ṭabarānī al-Kabīr; ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd, Vol. 1, p. 181)
If such strict action was taken against a pious man for a minor mistake, how then can a person who neglects Salah for most of the year and adopts un-Islamic styles be entrusted with the great responsibility of Imāmah?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you wish for your Salah to be accepted, then let the best among you lead, for they are your representatives before Allah.”
(Al-Ḥākim; Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 3, p. 186)
And in another narration:
“Appoint the best among you as your leaders in Salah, for they are your ambassadors between you and your Lord.”
(Dāraqutnī; Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 3, p. 184)
Nayl al-Awṭār explains:
“The difference lies in the conditions of uprightness, not in the validity of Salah. For whoever’s Salah is valid for himself, it is valid for others behind him as well.”
(Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 3, p. 180)
A Ḥāfiẓ of Qur’an who habitually neglects daily prayers and keeps un-Islamic hair styles is himself guilty of negligence and disobedience to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
◈ Such a person should not be appointed as Imam.
◈ If circumstances force praying behind him, the Salah will still be valid.
◈ However, if a more righteous and suitable person is available, the right of Imāmah belongs to him alone.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
❖ Question
If a Ḥāfiẓ of the Qur’an does not perform the five daily prayers regularly, but during Ramadan he prays consistently and leads Tarawih, can such a person be appointed as the Imam of Tarawih? Also, he always keeps his hair in a Western style.
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
A person who is negligent in performing the obligatory prayers and maintains an un-Islamic style in appearance is not suitable for the lofty position of Imāmah. The role of Imam is an extremely significant and sacred responsibility. Even a pious and practicing Muslim can be removed from Imāmah for a small inappropriate act during Salah, such as spitting towards the Qiblah.
✦ Evidence from Ahadith
First Ḥadīth
Narrated by al-Sā’ib bin Khallād:
A man led the people in prayer and spat towards the Qiblah while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was watching. When he completed the Salah, the Prophet ﷺ said: “This man shall no longer lead you in prayer.” Later, when he attempted to lead again, people stopped him and told him what the Prophet ﷺ had said. When this was mentioned to the Prophet ﷺ, he confirmed: “Yes, you have harmed Allah and His Messenger.”
(Abū Dāwūd, ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd, Vol. 1, p. 181; Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 3, p. 186)
Second Ḥadīth
ʿAbdullāh bin ʿAmr (رضي الله عنه) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ appointed a man to lead the people in Ẓuhr prayer. He spat towards the Qiblah during prayer. The Prophet ﷺ then replaced him with another Imam for ʿAṣr prayer. When the man, distressed, came to the Prophet ﷺ, he said: “You spat before you while leading the people, and thereby harmed Allah and His angels.”
(Ṭabarānī al-Kabīr; ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd, Vol. 1, p. 181)
✦ Selecting the Best for Imāmah
If such strict action was taken against a pious man for a minor mistake, how then can a person who neglects Salah for most of the year and adopts un-Islamic styles be entrusted with the great responsibility of Imāmah?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you wish for your Salah to be accepted, then let the best among you lead, for they are your representatives before Allah.”
(Al-Ḥākim; Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 3, p. 186)
And in another narration:
“Appoint the best among you as your leaders in Salah, for they are your ambassadors between you and your Lord.”
(Dāraqutnī; Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 3, p. 184)
✦ Scholarly Clarification
Nayl al-Awṭār explains:
“The difference lies in the conditions of uprightness, not in the validity of Salah. For whoever’s Salah is valid for himself, it is valid for others behind him as well.”
(Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 3, p. 180)
✦ Conclusion
A Ḥāfiẓ of Qur’an who habitually neglects daily prayers and keeps un-Islamic hair styles is himself guilty of negligence and disobedience to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
◈ Such a person should not be appointed as Imam.
◈ If circumstances force praying behind him, the Salah will still be valid.
◈ However, if a more righteous and suitable person is available, the right of Imāmah belongs to him alone.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
