Monday, October 17, 2005

Refusing to pray behind someone

Question: can a person refuse to read behind an imam if he feels that the imam does not have the same belief as himself?

Anwer: If the imaam has serious innovations in his belief, to the extent that he is not a Muslim, then it is forbidden and invalid to pray behind him. If he is an innovator, but not to the extent of falling out of Islam, then it is makruuh to pray behind him. If the imaam differ in opinion from a follower, but his opinion falls within the realm of sunni islam then one should not refuse to pray behind him.