Is congregational prayer valid if led by a non-Arab whose pronunciation of some letters is unclear, while there are two Arab worshippers, one of whom shaves his beard and the other is a smoker?
Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 2026
If the Imam does not mispronounce Al-Fatiha in a way that alters its meaning, then it is permissible to pray behind him, and he should be given precedence over others due to his commitment to religious principles. Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah stated that a pious believer is more deserving of leading the prayer than a fasiq (transgressor), even if the fasiq is a better reciter or more knowledgeable, because praying behind a fasiq is prohibited. It is not permissible to appoint a fasiq if it is possible to appoint a righteous person.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/123095
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 123095
- Imported
- Translation status
- Source text, unreviewed
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy