Which is better: praying behind an imam who shaves his beard in a mosque with many worshippers, or praying in a mosque with a small number of worshippers who follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)?
Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 2026
Insisting on shaving the beard is an act of transgression (fisq). Praying behind a transgressor (fasiq) when there is someone else more worthy is disliked (). The deficiency in the imamate of a transgressor is not rectified by the large number of worshippers behind him. Praying behind an imam who upholds the , even if his congregation is small, is better and more preferable than praying with a transgressing imam, even if his congregation is large, because the prayer of a transgressor is deficient and disliked.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported
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- 131491
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