Here in America we have a Shafi imam who usually give Juma khutba in our masjid,he gives khutba mostly in english with few lines in arabic,very good speaker but no sharaee beard with long jubba covering the ankles and some of his followers also make his movie during his khutba as he is a Peer for them and people blindly follow him,the masjid belong to hanafi school of thought and most of the namazis are Hanafi. Please give detail answer regarding offering salat behind him/Hanafi praying behind Shafi Imam Jazakallahkhair
Answer
(Fatwa: 479/345=L/1430)
It is unlawful to deliver khubah in non-Arabic language, trimming beard beyond Shariah limit and wearing jubbah below ankles. Therefore, performing salah behind such imam is makrooh. It is better to go to any other mosque where the imam is having correct beliefs, following sunnah and is aware of salah rulings. If someone has to pray behind the abovementioned imam, the salah will be valid provided he (imam) fulfils all the conditions of Taharah etc which are necessary according to Hanafi Fiqh.
(2) A Hanafi can pray behind a Shafe?i imam provided the imam does not do any thing which nullifies salah according to Hanafi Fiqh.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband