FatwaFederal TerritoriesPrayer (Salah)
AL-KAFI #541 : BERIMAMKAN ORANG FASIQ DAN MUNAFIK
Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who is a sinner or a hypocrite according to Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamaah?
Short answer
Praying behind an imam who commits sins or is a hypocrite is permissible but disliked.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Prayer (Salah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Praying behind an imam who commits sins or is a hypocrite is permissible but disliked. The imam should be someone who fulfils the conditions of validity or of preference. The fatwa cites a hadith on an imam whom the congregation dislikes, and a hadith ranking imam eligibility by Quran recitation, knowledge of the Sunnah, earlier migration and age.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Boleh tetapi makruh.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #541 : BERIMAMKAN ORANG FASIQ DAN MUNAFIK”, 21 February 2017. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/1005-al-kafi-541-berimamkan-orang-fasiq-dan-munafik. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/prayer-behind-sinful-or-hypocrite-imam/