What should worshippers do if an imam they do not desire is chosen, yet it is permissible to pray behind him?
If a preacher is chosen by the authorities and is undesirable, the worshipers should accept him and pray behind him, even if they dislike him, in order to preserve unity and avoid discord, especially if the dislike pertains to his preaching style and not to his religious adherence. Prayer behind him is valid as long as he meets the conditions for imamate, because it is permissible for a less preferred individual to lead the prayer. The dislike of following someone who is disliked pertains to the imam, not the congregants. Al-Nawawi said: "It is disliked for someone to lead prayer whom people dislike due to a blameworthy matter according to Islamic law; otherwise, there is no dislike, and the dislike in that case is specific to the imam."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- 83812
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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