✦ Extracted from: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, pp. 240–241
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◄ Believing that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ possesses complete knowledge of the unseen (ʿilm al-ghayb).
◄ Believing that the Prophet ﷺ is present and witnessing everywhere (ḥāḍir & nāẓir).
◄ Attributing cosmic control and intervention to saints (awliyāʾ) and seeking help from the dead.
◄ Prostrating to graves and to spiritual leaders.
These are considered acts of shirk and kufr, and it is not valid to pray behind someone holding such beliefs. Islamic rulings clearly prohibit praying behind a disbeliever or polytheist, as supported by authentic ḥadīths.
Therefore, prayer behind a Barelvi imam is not valid.
Even if the imam hastens through these positions and does not allow sufficient time for the followers to recite the recommended supplications, the prayer remains valid because reciting these supplications is Sunnah, not obligatory (farḍ).
However, if the imam skips these positions entirely or moves too quickly without achieving calmness and stillness, then prayer behind such an imam is not permissible, as ṭumaʾnīnah is an essential component of ṣalāh. Without it, the prayer is invalid.
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❖ Question
Is it permissible to pray behind a Ḥanafī with Barelvi beliefs? And what is the ruling if a Deobandi imam does not recite supplications during qawmah (standing after rukūʿ) and jalsah (sitting between prostrations), thereby not allowing the followers to recite them either?❖ Ruling on Praying Behind a Barelvi Imam
It is not permissible to pray behind an imam who holds Barelvi beliefs, as certain doctrines and practices associated with this group fall into categories of shirk (polytheism) and kufr (disbelief). Some of these problematic beliefs include:◄ Believing that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ possesses complete knowledge of the unseen (ʿilm al-ghayb).
◄ Believing that the Prophet ﷺ is present and witnessing everywhere (ḥāḍir & nāẓir).
◄ Attributing cosmic control and intervention to saints (awliyāʾ) and seeking help from the dead.
◄ Prostrating to graves and to spiritual leaders.
These are considered acts of shirk and kufr, and it is not valid to pray behind someone holding such beliefs. Islamic rulings clearly prohibit praying behind a disbeliever or polytheist, as supported by authentic ḥadīths.
Therefore, prayer behind a Barelvi imam is not valid.
❖ Ruling on Praying Behind a Deobandi Imam
If a Deobandi imam does not recite the prescribed supplications during qawmah and jalsah, but maintains calmness and stillness (ṭumaʾnīnah) while standing between rukūʿ and sujūd and sitting between the two sujūd, then prayer behind him is permissible.Even if the imam hastens through these positions and does not allow sufficient time for the followers to recite the recommended supplications, the prayer remains valid because reciting these supplications is Sunnah, not obligatory (farḍ).
However, if the imam skips these positions entirely or moves too quickly without achieving calmness and stillness, then prayer behind such an imam is not permissible, as ṭumaʾnīnah is an essential component of ṣalāh. Without it, the prayer is invalid.
