Is it permissible to pray behind a Sufi imam who insults the scholars of the Sunnah and the Jama'ah, practices and encourages innovations, when there is someone more حافظ (knowledgeable by heart) of the Book of Allah and more competent than him for the imamate?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If mosques are available, choose the imam who is most knowledgeable in recitation, most jurisprudent, and most just. If the only mosque has an imam who is an innovator, then pray behind him unless his innovation takes him out of Islam, based on the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "They lead you in prayer; if they are correct, it is for you, and if they err, it is for you and against them." And Al- Al-Basri said: "Pray, and his innovation is upon him." Uthman ibn Affan also said: "Prayer is the best of what people do; so if people do good, then do good with them."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/57786
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- Original fatwa ID
- 57786
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