Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I have been talking to certain students who argue that praying behind the present imams of kaba and madina is incorrect, praying behind them means salah is not valid and one will be a sinner. based on the following al Hasan said: “From the person of innovation Allah does not accept Prayer, nor Fasting, nor Hajj, nor ‘Umra, nor Jihaad, nor repentance, nor charity.” and another one, relating to do not eat with them, be with them, sit with them and pray with them… If this is the case, then how is one meant to do hajj or umrah… isnt this argument disuniting the ummah?
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
I pray that this finds you well, and in the best of health and spirits. May Allah grant you all good and success in this life and the next.
It is the position of my teachers that one may pray behind any Muslim, even when at variance with their religious understanding.
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Faraz Rabbani