Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 586
A mosque’s khatīb and imam collected money by begging from people and has now gone to perform Ḥajj with it. Will such a Ḥajj be valid, and is it permissible for us to pray behind such an imam?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
✿ Performing Ḥajj through begged money is a detestable and disgraceful act (qabīḥ fiʿl).
✿ Praying behind such an imam amounts to encouraging and endorsing his wrongful action.
Hence, one should avoid praying behind such an imam unless he sincerely repents and reforms his behavior.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best what is right.
❖ Question:
A mosque’s khatīb and imam collected money by begging from people and has now gone to perform Ḥajj with it. Will such a Ḥajj be valid, and is it permissible for us to pray behind such an imam?
✿ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
✿ Performing Ḥajj through begged money is a detestable and disgraceful act (qabīḥ fiʿl).
✿ Praying behind such an imam amounts to encouraging and endorsing his wrongful action.
Hence, one should avoid praying behind such an imam unless he sincerely repents and reforms his behavior.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best what is right.
