Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Bhai Burhan

Ramadhan Mubarak

I really enjoy reading the articles that you write and I find them very educative. Keep up the good work. I also need to ask you a question: If there is a RAZA NA SAHEB  at any place and he is doing ZINAH can we pray under him?

Thank you

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Praying behind a Zani

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If the ‘imam’ or the person who leads the prayer is an adulterer or ‘zani’, that sin is on him. If he has been appointed to lead the prayers, there is no harm in praying behind him; you will get the full reward for offering your prayers. Because in the Just Court of Allah, everyone is accountable for his own deeds.

But if the one leading the prayer is manifestly involved in the heinous sin of ‘shirk’ or associating other gods with Allah Subhanah, then one should not pray behind this imam.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan