I am a hafiz of the Quran and although I know better I have a haircut which is not permissible. I hve kept my beard without shaving or trimming it for a couple of months because I wanted to keep one as I just became hafiz Anyway my question to you is, when I lead Taraweeh, if I have a haircut which is not permissible does it affect the salat and the people behind me
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The position of an Imam is a sacred one that brings with it great responsibilities. An Imam is a representative of the people between them and Allah.[1] The validity of the peoples Salah rest upon him. Therefore, Taqwa and Allah consciousness of an Imam is vital. This is also understood in the following Ahadith; Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alahi Wa Sallam) said,
إنْ سَرَّكُمْ أَنْ يَقْبَلَ اللَّهُ صَلَاتَكُمْ فَلْيَؤُمَّكُمْ خِيَارُكُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ وَفْدُكُمْ فِيمَا بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ رَبِّكُم (البحر الرائق (1/ 370)
أخرج الحاكم في مستدركه)
If you desire that Allah accepts your Salah then the best from amongst should be the Imam, for verily he is your delegation between you and Allah.(Bahrur Raiq with reference to Mustadrak Alhakim)
In another Hadith Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alahi Wa Sallam) said,
الإِمَامُ ضَامِنٌ
“The Imam is responsible (for the Salah of the followers) (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 207)
Only a person who adheres to the Shari’ah and Sunnah is best suited for the position of an Imam. It is quite daring to assume the position of being an Imam while violating the laws and clear prohibitions of Shari’ah. The Imam being a representative should have the greatest Taqwa and adherence of Shari’ah to make the best representation of the Salah of his congregation.
If there is any defect in the religious conduct of the Imam, this will negatively impact on the Salah of the followers[2]. That is why the Fuqaha have stated that it is Makrooh for a Faasiq (sinner) to be the Imam. It is not permissible for a person having a prohibited hairstyle to be an Imam. Such a person will bear the negative consequences of the deficiency of the congregations Salah due to his violations of Shari’ah. If you wish to be an Imam, make sincere Tawbah from the prohibited hairstyle and adhere to Shari’ah.[3]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Arshad Ali
Student Darul Iftaa
Trinidad
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
مرفوعا إن سركم أن يقبل الله صلاتكم فليؤمكم خياركم فإنهم وفدكم فيما بينكم وبين ربكم
[2] المحيط البرهاني في الفقه النعماني (1/ 407)
ومن صلى خلف فاسق أو مبتدع يكون محرزاً ثواب الجماعة، قال عليه السلام: «صلوا خلف كل بر وفاجر» ، أما لا ينال ثواب من يصلي خلف تقي المذكور في قوله عليه السلام: «من صلى خلف تقي عالم فكأنما صلى خلف نبي
[3] الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 560)
وأما الفاسق فقد عللوا كراهة تقديمه بأنه لا يهتم لأمر دينه، وبأن في تقديمه للإمامة تعظيمه، وقد وجب عليهم إهانته شرعا، ولا يخفى أنه إذا كان أعلم من غيره لا تزول العلة، فإنه لا يؤمن أن يصلي بهم بغير طهارة فهو كالمبتدع تكره إمامته بكل حال
مجمع الأنهر (1/ 322)
( وَالْفَاسِقِ ) أَيْ الْخَارِجِ عَنْ طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ – تَعَالَى – بِارْتِكَابِ كَبِيرَةٍ ؛ لِأَنَّهُ لَا يُهِمُّ بِأَمْرِ دِينِهِ وَكَذَا إمَامَةُ النَّمَّامِ وَالْمُرَائِي وَالْمُتَصَنِّعِ وَشَارِبِ الخمر