Assalaamu Alaikum,
The person leading the prayer in Jamath (Imam) bought the home using conventional mortgage (Interest based bank loan). Is he allowed to lead the prayer, islamically? We learned that interest based mortgage is non-islamic, when a person doing non-islamic thing is qualified to lead the Fard Prayer and give Qutba/Bayaan? Is our prayer accepted behind such a person?
الجواب وبالله التوفيق
It is Haram to take an interest based loan without any extreme need. If the Imam is involved in interest based dealing without any extreme need his Imamat is Makrooh due to him being involved in Fisq unless he makes Taubah and quits such action then his Imamat is not Makrooh, however, Salat is acceptable behind such an Imam.
قال ابن عابدین تحت ھذا القول (ویکرہ امامۃ عبد و اعرابی و فاسق) ای من الفسق و ھو الخروج عن الاستقامۃ ولعل المراد بہ من یرتکب الکبائر کشا رب الخمر والزانی و اکل الربوا و نحو ذلک (فتاوٰی حقانیہ ۔ ج3 ، ص 100)
واللہ اعلم بالصواب