Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori❀ Ruling on Performing Salah Behind a Polytheist
When a person's polytheism (shirk) is known and evident, then it is not permissible to perform Salah behind him.
◈ Evidences from the Qur’an
① ﴿ وَلَوْ أَشْرَكُوا لَحَبِطَ عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴾
Al-An'am: 88
"If they had committed shirk (polytheism), then all the deeds they used to perform would have been rendered void."
② ﴿ لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ ﴾
Az-Zumar: 60
"If you (O Muhammad ﷺ) commit shirk, then surely your deeds will be nullified."
③ ﴿ وَبَاطِلٌ مَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴾
Al-A’raf: 138
"And whatever they used to do was in vain."
✔ Conclusion
These verses clearly indicate that the deeds of a polytheist are not acceptable. When his own Salah is invalid, then naturally the Salah of those following him (as a congregational leader) cannot be valid either.
