Ruling on Praying Behind an Imam Who Does Not Follow the Sunnah
Source: Ahkam wa Masail, Vol. 01, in the light of the Qur’an
❖ Question
Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who does not perform salah according to the Sunnah?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿAmma Baʿd!
There are two possible scenarios regarding praying behind an imam who does not follow the Sunnah:
✦ First Scenario:
Salah based on juristic or sectarian differences
If by "not according to Sunnah" you mean issues based on secondary juristic differences, such as:
- Performing or not performing rafʿ al-yadayn
- Saying Āmīn aloud or silently
- Reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah behind the imam or not
Then these do not fall under "against Sunnah," as they are differences of ijtihād and furūʿ.
In this case:Praying behind such an imam is valid, and in shā’ Allāh the prayer will be correct.
Evidences:
Imām Ibn Qudāmah (رحمه الله):"As for those who differ in subsidiary matters, like the followers of Abū Ḥanīfah, Mālik, and al-Shāfiʿī, praying behind them is valid and without dislike. Imām Aḥmad also stated this, as the Ṣaḥābah, Tābiʿīn, and their successors continued to lead and follow each other in prayer despite their juristic differences, and this became a consensus."
(al-Mughnī, 2/11)
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله):"As for a man praying behind someone who follows a different madhhab, this is valid by the consensus of the Companions, Tābiʿīn, and the four Imāms."
(Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā, 23/378–380)
Fatwa of al-Lajnah ad-Dāʾimah:"Differences in subsidiary matters have no effect on the validity of salah behind each other. It is upon the imam and scholars to follow what is strongest in evidence, whether the followers agree with them or not."
(Fatāwā al-Lajnah ad-Dāʾimah, 7/366)
Signed by: Shaykh Ibn Bāz, Shaykh ʿAbd al-Razzāq ʿAfīfī, Shaykh ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ghudayyān, Shaykh ʿAbd Allāh ibn Quʿūd.
Conclusion:All schools of Ahl al-Sunnah can pray behind each other, and the prayer is completely valid.
✦ Second Scenario:
Clear violation in salah or creed
If by "against Sunnah" you mean:
- The imam deliberately adds a fifth rakʿah in a four-rakʿah prayer
- Intentionally decreases or increases acts of prayer
- Or the imam is openly a mushrik
In this case:It is not permissible to pray behind such a person.
هذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
