Q: What’s the status of the Salaah of the Imaam and the muqtadees if the Imaam is known to be a follower of a certain mazhab eg: Shafi, but when he goes on the musallah he performs namaaz like a Hanafi, when questioned why he does that his simple answer was “I don’t want to confuse the people”. What is the status of the muqtadis and Imaams Salaah?
A: If he does not do anything that will invalidate the salaah according to both mazhabs then his salaah as well as the muqtadi’s salaah will be valid.
( وصح الاقتداء فيه ) ففي غيره أولى إن لم يتحقق منه ما يفسدها في اعتقاده في الأصح كما بسطه في البحر ( بشافعي ) مثلا ( لم يفصله بسلام ) لا إن فصله ( على الأصح ) فيهما للاتحاد وإن اختلف الاعتقاد (الدر المختار 2/ 8)
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)