Is prayer valid behind an imam about whom nothing is known, and who has been temporarily appointed by the mosque's organizers due to the unavailability of official mosques?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Congregational prayer is obligatory, and keenness to perform it is required. Prayer behind an Imam whose فسق (disobedience/corruption) is confirmed is valid. Thus, it is all the more valid behind someone whose فسق is unknown. Do not raise doubts about the validity of prayer behind an Imam whose state is concealed (i.e., not openly known to be disobedient), as long as nothing has become apparent from him that would invalidate his prayer or prayer behind him. It is not a condition for the worshipper to know the Imam's beliefs or to test him; rather, one prays behind someone whose state is concealed.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/97698
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 97698
- 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