Can One Who Practices Amulets, Lies, or Magic Lead Prayer as an Imām?
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Bāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 159
Question:
Can a person who practices taʿwīdh (amulets), one who lies, or one who performs magic, lead the congregation in prayer as an Imām? Please clarify in the light of Qurʾān and ḥadīth.
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Ruling on Taʿwīdh (Amulets):
◈ The practice of amulets—whether Qurʾānic/ḥadīth-based or non-Qurʾānic—is not established from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
◈ Therefore, taʿwīdh in itself has no proof from Sunnah or Sharīʿah.
Imāmah of One Who Practices Shirk or Kufr-based Amulets:
◈ Anyone who engages in shirkī or kufrī amulets is not eligible to lead prayer.
◈ This is because kufr and shirk are unforgivable acts in their essence, and committing them takes a person out of the fold of Islam.
Imāmah of a Magician:
◈ A magician is also not qualified for imāmah, because according to the Qurʾān, magic is kufr.
As Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُوا الشَّيَاطِينُ﴾ (al-Baqarah: 102)
"And they followed what the devils recited…"
◈ In this verse, magic has been explicitly described as kufr. Therefore, one who practices magic cannot lead prayer.
Imāmah of One Who Lies:
◈ A person who occasionally lies may lead prayer temporarily.
◈ However, such a person should not be appointed as a permanent imām, since imāmah requires qualities of piety, truthfulness, and integrity.
Summary:
✔ One who practices shirkī or kufrī amulets → Not eligible for imāmah
✔ A magician → Not eligible for imāmah
✔ One who occasionally lies → May lead prayer temporarily, but not suitable as a permanent imām
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam bi-ṣ-ṣawāb.
