About Hayat Anne Collins Osman Expertise I can answer questions about the beliefs and practices of Islam and Muslims, and topics such as family matters, women`s issues, education, and other cultural subjects. I am not qualified to issue fatawa (religious rulings), but I can locate and interpret fatawa related to most topics.
I do not write about political issues.
Experience I teach Islamic Studies at an adult education center. I speak about Islam at hospitals, schools, and churches. I have published articles about Islam in the print media and on online.
Professionally, I teach English language and literature in middle and high school. I have three years experience as a newspaper editor, and eight years administrative experience with the US government.
A former Christian (Episcopalian), I reverted to Islam in the USA, seventeen years ago. I later married a Muslim. I have four children and four grandchildren.
Question salaamualaikum.will my salah be acceptted if i pray behind an imam who does not follow prophet's sahih hadith rather acts on hadiths which are daef or hadiths which are fake just because he wants to follow his school of thought and always gives khutbas according to his madhab and does not even mention other sunnas lest it may contradict with his madhab thus prefering his imam's kaul with prophet's sunnah.
wassalaamualaikum.
Answer Asalamu aleykum
Based on the following, it seems that whether prayer behind an imam is acceptable depends on whether it includes bid'ah of a kufr nature.
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Question Reference Number:: 20885
Title: Praying behind followers of bid'ah, whether that bid'ah amounts to kufr or not
Home > Usool al-Fiqh > Innovations in Religion and Worship >
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Question:
Can we say our prayers behind an imam who does bidah and have concepts consisting of shirk?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Bid'ah (innovation) may amount to kufr, as in the case of the Jahamis, Raafidis and those who believe in hulool (incarnation) and ittihad (unity of the Creator and creation), in which case their prayer is not valid and it is not permissible for anyone to pray behind them;
Or the bid'ah may not amount to kufr, such as speaking the intention (niyyah) out loud, and gathering to recite dhikr together as the Sufis do. The prayer of these people is valid, as are prayers offered behind them. But the Muslim has to advise them to give up this bid'ah. If they pay heed, then this is what is wanted, otherwise the person has done what he was obliged to do. In this case it is better to look for another imam who is keen to follow the Sunnah.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him0 said:
The kind of bid'ah for which a person is regarded as being one of those who follow their whims and desires is that which is well known among the scholars of the Sunnah for going against the Qur'aan and Sunnah, such as the bid'ah of the Khaarijis, the Raafidis, the Qadaris and the Murji'is. ‘Abd-Allaah ibn al-Mubaarak, Yoosuf ibn Asbaat and others said: The roots of the seventy-two sects are four: the Khaarijis, the Raafidis, the Qadaris and the Murji'is. It was said to Ibn al-Mubaarak, And the Jahamis? He said, The Jahamis are not part of the ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
The Jahamis deny the divine attributes and say that the Qur'aan was created, that Allaah will not be seen in the Hereafter, that Muhammad was not taken up to Allaah [on the night of the Mi'raaj], and that Allaah has no knowledge, power or life, and so on, as the Mu'tazilis, philosophers and their followers said. ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Mahdi said: There are only two groups to beware of: the Jahamis and the Raafidis.
These two groups are the worst of the followers of innovation, and from them stemmed the esoteric Qaraamiti groups such as the Nusayris and Ismaa'ilis. Similar to them are those who believe in the unity of the Creator and the creation, because their ideas are akin to Pharaonic ideas.
The Raafidis of the current age, as well as being Raafidis are also Jahamis and Qadaris, because in addition to their rafd [which has to do with their beliefs concerning the imams] they also follow the Mu'tazili school of thought, and some of them even follow the school of thought of the Ismaa'ilis and other similar heretics and those who believe in the unity of the Creator and the creation. And Allaah and His Messenger know best.
Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 35/414-415.
The Scholars of the Standing Committee said:
With regard to praying behind an innovator, if his bid'ah amounts to shirk, such as calling upon someone other than Allaah, making vows to someone other than Allaah, or believing that their shaykhs possess attributes that belong to Allaah alone – such as perfect knowledge, knowledge of the unseen or the power to influence events – then prayers offered behind them are not valid. If their bid'ah does not amount to shirk, such as reciting dhikrs that were narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), but doing that in unison and swaying from side to side, then prayers offered behind them are valid, but the Muslim should look for an imam to pray behind who is not a follower of innovation, because that will increase his reward and is farther removed from evil.
And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
Home > Jurisprudence and Islamic Rulings > Acts of Worship > Prayer > Leading Prayer >
Question:
What is your opinion on the Ibaadi sect? Is it true that Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) described this sect as kaafirs? Here in our mosque in America there are different groups such as Zaydis and Shi'ah. Can we allow any of them to lead the prayers and we pray behind him, or should only Sunnis lead the prayers?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
The Ibaadis are one of the misguided groups, as it says in the Fatwa of the Standing Committee, no. 6935, which says:
Question: Is the Ibaadi sect regarded as one of the misguided sects of the Khaarijis, and is it permissible to pray behind them?
The Committee answered as follows:
The Ibaadis are one of the misguided sects because of their aggression and rebellion against ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan and ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with them both), and it is not permissible to pray behind them.
And Allaah is the Source of strength.
Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas.
For more information on the Ibaadis please see question no. (11529)
We cannot find any statement by Shaykh Ibn Baaz to the effect that this group are kaafirs.
See the ruling on praying behind a Shi'i in the answer to question no. 20093.
It is not permissible to allow the followers of innovation that constitutes kufr to lead the prayers, because prayers offered behind them are not valid according to a number of scholars, and because they deserve to be forsaken and rebuked, not put forward for positions of leadership, and because allowing them to lead the prayer may lead to the ignorant being deceived by them.
Innovations that constitute kufr include such things as saying that the Qur'aan is created, denying that the believers will see their Lord in Paradise, saying that those who commit major sins are kaafirs or will abide in Hell for eternity, denouncing Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them) as kaafirs, saying that the Qur'aan has been altered, claiming that the imams have knowledge of the unseen, seeking the help of the dead, and other forms of kufr and shirk.
This is contrast to one who follows an innovation that does not constitute kufr; prayer offered behind such a person is valid.
The following question was mentioned in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah (7/364):
Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who follows innovation?
The Committee replied:
Whoever can find an imam who does not follow innovation, let him pray behind him and not the one who follows innovation. Whoever cannot find anyone but the one who follows innovation, let him advise him in the hope that he will give up the bid'ah (innovation). If he does not accept that and his innovation involves shirk – such as one who seeks the help of the dead or prays to them instead of Allaah or offers sacrifices to them – then you should not pray behind him because he is a kaafir and his prayer is invalid, and it is not proper to make him an imam. If his bid'ah does not constitute kufr, such as speaking the intention out loud, then his prayer and the prayer of those who pray behind him is still valid.
And Allaah is the Source of strength.
Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas.
Home > Jurisprudence and Islamic Rulings > Acts of Worship > Prayer > Leading Prayer >
Question:
What is your opinion on the Ibaadi sect? Is it true that Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) described this sect as kaafirs? Here in our mosque in America there are different groups such as Zaydis and Shi'ah. Can we allow any of them to lead the prayers and we pray behind him, or should only Sunnis lead the prayers?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
The Ibaadis are one of the misguided groups, as it says in the Fatwa of the Standing Committee, no. 6935, which says:
Question: Is the Ibaadi sect regarded as one of the misguided sects of the Khaarijis, and is it permissible to pray behind them?
The Committee answered as follows:
The Ibaadis are one of the misguided sects because of their aggression and rebellion against ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan and ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with them both), and it is not permissible to pray behind them.
And Allaah is the Source of strength.
Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas.
For more information on the Ibaadis please see question no. (11529)
We cannot find any statement by Shaykh Ibn Baaz to the effect that this group are kaafirs.
See the ruling on praying behind a Shi'i in the answer to question no. 20093.
It is not permissible to allow the followers of innovation that constitutes kufr to lead the prayers, because prayers offered behind them are not valid according to a number of scholars, and because they deserve to be forsaken and rebuked, not put forward for positions of leadership, and because allowing them to lead the prayer may lead to the ignorant being deceived by them.
Innovations that constitute kufr include such things as saying that the Qur'aan is created, denying that the believers will see their Lord in Paradise, saying that those who commit major sins are kaafirs or will abide in Hell for eternity, denouncing Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them) as kaafirs, saying that the Qur'aan has been altered, claiming that the imams have knowledge of the unseen, seeking the help of the dead, and other forms of kufr and shirk.
This is contrast to one who follows an innovation that does not constitute kufr; prayer offered behind such a person is valid.
The following question was mentioned in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah (7/364):
Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who follows innovation?
The Committee replied:
Whoever can find an imam who does not follow innovation, let him pray behind him and not the one who follows innovation. Whoever cannot find anyone but the one who follows innovation, let him advise him in the hope that he will give up the bid'ah (innovation). If he does not accept that and his innovation involves shirk – such as one who seeks the help of the dead or prays to them instead of Allaah or offers sacrifices to them – then you should not pray behind him because he is a kaafir and his prayer is invalid, and it is not proper to make him an imam. If his bid'ah does not constitute kufr, such as speaking the intention out loud, then his prayer and the prayer of those who pray behind him is still valid.
And Allaah is the Source of strength.
Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas.
Islam Questions & Answers
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Question Reference Number:: 26152
Title: Questions about an imam
Home > Usool al-Fiqh > Innovations in Religion and Worship >
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Question:
Q#1.In our company camp, there is a Imam, who is leading every prayer, he is from XXXX. about his qira'ath, like he giving "madd" upon every kalima, reciting like song. we asked him which type of qira'ath is this? He is saying that his ustad have teached him like this. sometime we can't pray behind him because his sound will arise with different tune.
Kindly we want know, is allowed to recite such type of tune and very high sound? what is the rule of reciting qur'an in the obligatory prayer (Fajr, Magrib & Esha)?
Q#2. After prayer he will put his hand (palm) on his forehead and saying "ya hayyun, ya qayyoom" for seven time. we asked him "why are you doing this?" he answered: Scholars said that our brain become will be braight, if you do this after every obligatory prayer and he told us it is in the Sahih Muslim also. but we didn't find that.
Please, for the sake of Allah, answer to us for the above question to correct our deeds on right path, if he is doing wrong, how we can correct him? he never agree anything, because he is saying what I am doing it is correct according to Islam. so, we can't say anything against him.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Making one's voice beautiful when reciting Qur'aan is something good and there is nothing wrong with it; rather this is part of the teaching of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
It was narrated that al-Bara' (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) reciting Wa'l-teeni wa'l-zaytoon in ‘Isha prayer, and I never heard anyone with a more beautiful voice (or recitation) than his.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 735; Muslim, 464
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) praised the recitation of Abu Moosa al-Ash'ari, who had a melodious voice. But the kind of making the voice beautiful which is encouraged should not distort the meaning of the words and it should not resemble the way that the evildoers sing songs.
It was narrated that Abu Moosa said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to Abu Moosa, “If only you had seen me when I was listening to you last night, you have been given a beautiful voice like that of Dawood.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4761; Muslim, 793; this version narrated by Muslim
Al-Nawawi said:
Al-Qaadi said: The scholars are unanimously agreed that it is mustahabb to make one's voice beautiful when reciting Qur'aan and to recite properly (tarteel). Abu ‘Ubayd said: The ahaadeeth narrated concerning that are to be understood as meaning that it should be done with solemnity and feeling. He said, But they differed with regard to reciting it with a tune. Maalik and the majority regarded that as makrooh because that is contrary to the purpose for which the Qur'aan was revealed, whichis to be recited with humility and understanding. Abu Haneefah and a group among the Salaf regarded it as permissible because of the ahaadeeth and because that is a means of softening people's hearts, provoking fear and making people receptive towards listening to it.
I say: al-Shaafa'i said in one place, I dislike reciting Qur'aan with a tune; and elsewhere he said, I do not dislike it. Our companions said: there is no contradiction in this case, rather it has to do with two different situations. When he said that he disliked it, he meant if it was excessively elongated and the meanings of the words were changed by adding or taking away or elongating something that is not to be elongated, etc.; and when he said that it was permissible, he meant if it does not change the meaning of the words. And Allaah knows best.
Sharh Muslim, 6/80
Secondly:
With regard to what your imam does, putting his hand on his forehead and saying Yaa Hayyu, Yaa Qayyoom seven times, there is no basis in sharee'ah for doing this, and it is not in Saheeh Muslim or any other book of saheeh Sunnah. It is a reprehensible bid'ah (innovation) and you have to advise him to stop doing that and explain the shar'i ruling on innovated forms of dhikr.
With regard to praying behind this imam: it is permissible but it is preferable if you can look for an imam who will establish the Sunnah and teach it to you, because there is the fear that some of the worshippers may be influenced by him and may imitate him and spread his bid'ah. But before doing that, do not forget to advise him and teach him the correct Sunnah for dhikr in particular and for worship in general. Then if he insists on his bid'ah, there is nothing wrong with you taking action to prevent him from leading the prayer.
The scholars of the Standing Committee said:
As for praying behind those who follow innovation, if their innovation involves shirk, such as calling upon someone other than Allaah, or making vows to someone other than Allaah, or believing that their shaykhs have characteristics which belong to no one but Allaah, such as having complete knowledge or knowledge of the unseen or influence over the universe, then it is not correct to pray behind them. But if their bid'ah does not involve shirk, such as reciting dhikr that was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) but in unison and swaying, then prayers offered behind them are valid, but the Muslim should look for an imam to pray behind who is not an innovator, because that will bring him a greater reward and is farther removed from evil.
And Allaah is the Source of Strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
Islam Questions & Answers
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Question Reference Number:: 245
Title: Rejecting the sunnah and praying behind someone who does
Home > Jurisprudence and Islamic Rulings > Acts of Worship > Prayer > Leading Prayer >
Home > Manners > Honouring Parents >
Question:
Assalamalaykum wa rahmatulla wa barakatuh,
My family is not very religious but I try to be, but am constantly mocked and ridiculed for trying to follow the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad and enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong. My family think I am extreme in my views because I hold hadith in high regard, whereas my father does not. He believes that a hadith explaining the commandments in the Qur'an, for example praying, should be followed, but those concerning matters outside of the Quern, for example prohibition of touching a female who is not your mehram, should not be followed. He has many other beliefs, but my question is this:
Is it permissible for me to pray behind him with him as the Imam? If not, is it permissible for me to pretend that I am praying so that he does not feel offended that I do not want to pray behind him? Because I have read in Quern that children should not hurt their parents, and one of the biggest sins in Islam is a child making his parents cry, and I feel that in telling him that I am not able to pray behind him, I would infact hurt him.
I eagerly await your response. Jazzakallahkhairum for your help.
Wa alaykum-as-salam wa rahmatulla wa barakatuh.
Answer:
Al-hamdu lillaah.
The situation in which you are, dear brother, is certainly a difficult one. It is not easy to live with a father that has aberrations and perversities stemming from being misguided from the true path of ahl us-sunnah wal-jamaa'ah (the followers of the Qur'aan, sunnah, and our pious predecessors). However, a Muslim is to anticipate and seek reward from Allaah for: being patient with and persevering in dealing with your father; and, being polite when counseling and showing him the truth of guidance, using appropriate and agreeable methods that do not give your father the impression that you are trying to show superiority or arrogance, or that you are belittling him. Instead, your father should feel that the advice is from a son that acknowledges and respects his position as his father, and that your concern is out of care and veneration., as the case was with Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) when calling his father to the path of truth. Allaah the Most Glorious said in the Qur'aan (interpretation of the meaning):
When he (Ibrahim) said to his father: "O my father! Why do you worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail you in anything? O my father! Verily, there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you. So follow me; I will guide you to a straight path. O my father! Worship not Satan. Verily, Satan has been a rebel against the Most Beneficent (Allah). O my father! Verily, I fear lest a torment from the Most Beneficent (Allaah) overtake you, so that you become a companion of Satan ( in Hell-Fire)." He (the father) said: " Do you reject my gods, O Ibrahim? If you do not stop (this), I will indeed stone you. So get away from me safely before I punish you." Ibrahim said :" Peace be upon you. I will ask forgiveness of my Lord for you. Verily, He is unto me, ever most gracious. (surat Maryam, 19:41-47)
Note that Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) addressed his father in the most subordinate and most refined, courteous, and polite expression (abati in Arabic). Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) did not say to him, "I am a scholar and you are ignorant"; instead, he said "There has come to me of knowledge (as a Prophet) that which has not come unto you." Ibrahim (peace be upon him) showed his concern and compassion towards his father's well-being when he said, "O my father! Verily, I fear lest a torment from the Most Beneficent (Allaah) overtake you…." When his father rejected the truth and threatened to stone him, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) replied in utmost politeness, "Peace be upon you," and promised him that he will pray to his Lord on his behalf for forgiveness. This is how a righteous son should advise his misguided father.
You also should know that rejecting or denying the sunnah of our Prophet (peace be upon him) is an extremely grave matter; hopefully this subject will be covered in detail as a separate issue. In brief, if your father's bida'ah (innovation in religion) takes him out of the fold of Islam, then your prayers behind him is not valid since he would be a kafir (infidel, unbeliever). Such would be the case if, for example, he insists and persists in completely rejecting the sunnah in its entirety, even after the proof and evidence demonstrating and substantiating the truth and validity of the matter is presented to him. On the other hand, if your father's bida'ah does not take him out of the fold of Islam, such as the case of refusing to perform certain acts mentioned in the Qur'aan and Sunnah, then it is permissible to pray behind him and your prayers are sound, and Allaah knows best.
Addendum: Sheikh Muhammad ibn Salih ibn Uthaimeen has replied the following with regards to this question:
Denying (the sunnah) could be of two types: a denial with regards to interpretation or a denial of rejection. If it is a denial of rejection, in the sense that one might say, "Yes, I realize that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said this, but I reject it and don't accept it," then the person is a kaafir (unbeliever) and has committed apostasy. Thus, it would be impermissible to pray behind him. If, on the other hand, it is a denial of interpretation, then he is granted a respite, if the interpretation is possible and warranted by the language, and he knows the sources of Islamic law and its resources. In this case, it is not an act of kufr, but rather under the category of those who innovate incorrect practices in the religion (if his interpretation is such). It would be permissible to pray behind such a person, unless there is a beneficial objective behind not doing so, such as deterring him from such opinions, so that he may reconsider his mistaken interpretations. In this latter case, then it would be preferable not to pray behind him (if such a beneficial effect would be realized).
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Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
