✦ Extracted from: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, pp. 228–231
Formatted for clarity and proper understanding.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
"إِنْ سَرَّكُمْ أَنْ تُقْبَلَ صَلَاتُكُمْ فَلْيُؤُمَّكُمْ خِيَارُكُمْ"
(al-Mustadrak al-Ḥākim)
“If you want your prayer to be accepted, let the best among you lead the prayer.”
Another narration from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim states:
"يُؤُمُّ الْقَوْمَ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ لِكِتَابِ اللّٰهِ"
“The one who is most proficient in the Qur’an should lead the people in prayer.”
When asked about appointing a person who drinks cannabis as imam, he replied:
“Anyone involved in unlawful acts should not be made an imam.”
(Fatāwā Ibn Taymiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 108)
◄ The most righteous, knowledgeable, and pious individual should lead the prayer.
◄ Accepting the leadership of a sinful imam can lead to spiritual decline in the community, as mentioned in prophetic traditions.
◄ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
◄ al-Mustadrak al-Ḥākim
◄ Fatāwā Ibn Taymiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 108
◄ al-Iʿtiṣām, Vol. 11, Issue No. 26
Formatted for clarity and proper understanding.
❖ Question
What is the ruling on performing prayer behind an imam who has been caught committing adultery or has confessed to it, or one who is involved in drinking alcohol, gambling, using narcotics like cannabis or bhang, dealing in interest-based transactions, or spreading mischief through amulets and charms (taʿwīdh)? Is such a person religiously qualified to lead the prayer?❖ Answer
A person involved in the above-mentioned major sins and acts of open disobedience (fisq and fujūr) is not eligible to lead the prayer. According to Islamic teachings, such a person must be removed from the position of imam, and a righteous, God-fearing individual should be appointed in his place.❖ Qualifications of an Imam
Islamic texts clearly state that an imam must be the most knowledgeable and pious among the people.Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
"إِنْ سَرَّكُمْ أَنْ تُقْبَلَ صَلَاتُكُمْ فَلْيُؤُمَّكُمْ خِيَارُكُمْ"
(al-Mustadrak al-Ḥākim)
“If you want your prayer to be accepted, let the best among you lead the prayer.”
Another narration from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim states:
"يُؤُمُّ الْقَوْمَ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ لِكِتَابِ اللّٰهِ"
“The one who is most proficient in the Qur’an should lead the people in prayer.”
❖ Ruling by Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah
Ibn Taymiyyah (RA) emphasized that someone engaged in sinful or prohibited acts should not be appointed as an imam. He stated that appointing such a person when a righteous alternative exists is a betrayal of Allah and His Messenger.When asked about appointing a person who drinks cannabis as imam, he replied:
“Anyone involved in unlawful acts should not be made an imam.”
(Fatāwā Ibn Taymiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 108)
❖ Prayer Behind a Fāsiq Imam
There is scholarly consensus that praying behind a fāsiq (open sinner) imam is disliked (makrūh). According to some reports from Imām Mālik and Imām Aḥmad, such a prayer is not valid at all. However, Imām Abū Ḥanīfah and Imām al-Shāfiʿī consider the prayer to be valid but disliked.❖ Conclusion
◄ An imam involved in adultery, drinking, gambling, usury, or any other major sin must be removed.◄ The most righteous, knowledgeable, and pious individual should lead the prayer.
◄ Accepting the leadership of a sinful imam can lead to spiritual decline in the community, as mentioned in prophetic traditions.
❖ References
◄ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī◄ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
◄ al-Mustadrak al-Ḥākim
◄ Fatāwā Ibn Taymiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 108
◄ al-Iʿtiṣām, Vol. 11, Issue No. 26
