Kya kahte hain Ulma-e-Kiram is baare mein — (1) Kya koi Aalim jiski zabaan par ‘Faalis’ ka asar ho gaya ho aur uski alfaaz-andaazi sahi na ho, to kya woh ‘Aalim’ bachcho ko Madarse mein ‘Quran’ ki taalim de sakta hai aur Kya wo Namaz bhi pada sakta hai? (2) Hafiz or Nadra (Non-Hafiz) mein se kaun (Jab dono maujood ho) Namaz mein Imamat karega?
Answer
(Fatwa: 930/934=M/1429)
If the paralysis affected him to such extent that he is not able to do qirat and recite the Quran with correct pronunciation then it is not right for him to lead the prayers. However, if he can pronounce each word correctly and the children also can understand him then he can teach the students.
(2) If hafiz is not aalim and the aalim is not hafiz but recites the Quran correctly and has the other qualities of imamah as well, then the non-hafiz aalim is better than hafiz for imamah, otherwise the hafiz will be better.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband