Referenced from: Fatawa ‘Ulama-e-Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Vol. 1, p. 198❖ Question
A Hanafi scholar claims that a Hanafi follower cannot offer Eid prayers behind a Shafi‘i Imam because in Hanafi fiqh Eid is wajib, while in Shafi‘i fiqh it is Sunnah Mu’akkadah. What is the correct view in light of the Qur’an and Hadith?❖ Answer
It is permissible for a Hanafi follower to perform Eid prayers behind a Shafi‘i Imam, just as it is permissible to pray behind a Shafi‘i Imam in Witr during Ramadan, even though the Hanafi school deems Witr wajib, while Shafi‘is consider it Sunnah.❖ On Terminology
The terms “wajib” and “sunnah” were formally defined after the era of the Prophet ﷺ. Therefore, legal judgments affecting the validity of prayer cannot be based solely on these later terminologies.❖ Evidence from Hadith
Authentic Hadiths show that an Imam may pray a nafl (voluntary) prayer while the followers perform a fard (obligatory) prayer. For example:Mu‘adh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه used to pray ‘Isha with the Prophet ﷺ and then lead his people in the same prayer again, which was a nafl for him and fard for them.
The Prophet ﷺ did not object to this, which demonstrates the permissibility of praying with differing intentions.
Wallahu A‘lam — And Allah knows best.
(Dated: May 1, 1938 – Fatawa Sanaiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 340)
