Shari'ah Ruling on the Imamate of a Person Involved in Illegitimate Earnings
◈ Source: Fatawa ‘Ulama-e-Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Vol. 1, Pages 185–186
Is it permissible to appoint a person as an Imam who possesses mortgaged land and consumes its profits, and also writes interest-based contracts?
A person who consumes the profit from mortgaged land and writes documents related to interest (riba) is not worthy of leading prayers. It is not permissible under Islamic law to appoint such individuals as Imams. If such a person is already serving as an Imam, he should be removed from the position of Imamate.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ removed a man from Imamate merely for spitting in the direction of the Qiblah during prayer.
☉ Hadith: It is narrated from Sā’ib bin Khallād (رضي الله عنه):
“A man spat in the direction of the Qiblah while leading people in prayer and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was watching. After the prayer, the Prophet said: ‘This man should not lead you in prayer again.’”
(Sunan Abū Dāwūd)
The Imam must be the most virtuous and righteous among the people.
☉ Hadith reported by al-Ḥākim:
“If you desire that your prayers be accepted, then appoint the best among you as your Imam, for the Imam is an intermediary between you and your Lord.”
(Al-Ḥākim)
According to Imam Mālik and other scholars, it is disliked (makrūh) to pray behind an unjust (fāsiq) Imam. Some even consider such a prayer to be invalid.
Sayyidunā ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) dismissed Saʿd bin Abī Waqqās (رضي الله عنه) from the leadership and governorship of Kufah based merely on complaints against him.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
“There is a difference of opinion regarding the validity of prayer behind an unjust Imam, but there is no difference of opinion regarding the dislike (karāhah) of it.”
(Nayl al-Awṭār)
A person who benefits from mortgaged land and engages in the documentation of interest-based transactions is not Islamically eligible for the position of Imamate. The Imam should be righteous and superior in piety, in order that the acceptance of prayers is not compromised.
Wallāhu Aʿlam
◈ Source: Fatawa ‘Ulama-e-Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Vol. 1, Pages 185–186
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to appoint a person as an Imam who possesses mortgaged land and consumes its profits, and also writes interest-based contracts?
❖ Answer:
A person who consumes the profit from mortgaged land and writes documents related to interest (riba) is not worthy of leading prayers. It is not permissible under Islamic law to appoint such individuals as Imams. If such a person is already serving as an Imam, he should be removed from the position of Imamate.
❖ Evidences:
✔ Example of Removal from Imamate:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ removed a man from Imamate merely for spitting in the direction of the Qiblah during prayer.
☉ Hadith: It is narrated from Sā’ib bin Khallād (رضي الله عنه):
“A man spat in the direction of the Qiblah while leading people in prayer and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was watching. After the prayer, the Prophet said: ‘This man should not lead you in prayer again.’”
(Sunan Abū Dāwūd)
✔ Instruction to Appoint the Best Person as Imam:
The Imam must be the most virtuous and righteous among the people.
☉ Hadith reported by al-Ḥākim:
“If you desire that your prayers be accepted, then appoint the best among you as your Imam, for the Imam is an intermediary between you and your Lord.”
(Al-Ḥākim)
✔ Dislike for Following an Unjust Imam:
According to Imam Mālik and other scholars, it is disliked (makrūh) to pray behind an unjust (fāsiq) Imam. Some even consider such a prayer to be invalid.
✔ Practice of Sayyidunā ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه):
Sayyidunā ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) dismissed Saʿd bin Abī Waqqās (رضي الله عنه) from the leadership and governorship of Kufah based merely on complaints against him.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
✔ Statement of Imām al-Shawkānī (رحمه الله):
“There is a difference of opinion regarding the validity of prayer behind an unjust Imam, but there is no difference of opinion regarding the dislike (karāhah) of it.”
(Nayl al-Awṭār)
❖ Summary:
A person who benefits from mortgaged land and engages in the documentation of interest-based transactions is not Islamically eligible for the position of Imamate. The Imam should be righteous and superior in piety, in order that the acceptance of prayers is not compromised.
Wallāhu Aʿlam
