Is it true that whoever raises his head before the Imam will have his head become the head of a donkey, as stated in the Hadith: "Does not one of you fear, if he raises his head before the Imam, that Allah may turn his head into the head of a donkey or his image into the image of a donkey?"?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The mentioned by the questioner is authentic, and its meaning emphasizes the severe prohibition of raising one's head before the Imam and lowering it. The Hadith clarifies that whoever does this intentionally has exposed himself to the mentioned punishment, which is the transformation of his head into the head of a donkey, either physically or metaphorically through dullness. Allah may grant him respite, either out of mercy or as a gradual enticement.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/44774
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 44774
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy