Sometimes when the Imām is not available at the Masjid, people often assign a person who trims his beard less than the required amount to lead the Salāt. In that situation, will the Salāt of the Muqtadees (followers) be valid? What are the consequences? Can I leave the Jamāt in pretext of my Wudū being broken and not offer the Salāt with Jamāt in this situation?
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
If the appointed Imām who adheres to the Sunnah is not available, then such a person who adheres to the Sunnah should be appointed. If by any chance a Fāsiq (transgressor) person has been appointed as an Imām, the Salāh of the Muqtadees (followers) will still be valid. However, it is Makrooh (disliked) to appoint such a person as an Imām.[1] The issue should be discussed with the administration of the Masjid to appoint a suitable Imām in the absence of the official Imām.
It is not permissible for you to leave the Salāt in pretext of your Wudū being broken. You must offer the Salāt behind the Imām, regardless whether he is a Fāsiq or not to prevent causing any source of Fitnā inside the Masjid.[2]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mawlana Abdul Hannan Nizami,
Student Darul Iftaa
USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net
[1] الدر المختار شرح تنوير الأبصار في فقه مذهب الإمام أبي حنيفة – (1 / 548)
ويكره تقليد الفاسق
المحيط البرهاني للإمام برهان الدين ابن مازة – (8 / 401)
أن الأولى أن لا يقلد الفاسق
الفقه الإسلامي وأدلته 004 – (1 / 35)
ويكره تقليد الفاسق، ويعزل بالفسق إلا لفتنة
[2]سنن أبي داود – (1 / 162
– حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ ، حَدَّثَنِي مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ ، عَنْ مَكْحُولٍ ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : الصَّلاَةُ الْمَكْتُوبَةُ وَاجِبَةٌ خَلْفَ كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ بَرًّا كَانَ أَوْ فَاجِرًا وَإِنْ عَمِلَ الْكَبَائِرَ.
(Fatāwā Mahmoodiyah, 6/80, Idāratul Fārooqia)