An Imam’s Misguidance concerning God and the Messenger

Question

A man who also leads the prayer says: “I saw with my own eyes Hadrat Mawlana Muhammad Qasim, founder of Dar al-‘Ulum Deoband, delivering a speech and saying to those present, ‘Have you seen Allah?’ I said, ‘Revered shaykh, we have not seen Him.’ Then the revered shaykh took a handkerchief out of his pocket; thunder and rumbling began without any cloud, and after a long while he turned to the people and said, ‘Look, in the handkerchief is the idol and image of the Holy Lord with human limbs’ (na‘udhu billah minha).

Answer

One who takes out of a handkerchief “an image of Allah Most High with human limbs” and shows it to those present (na‘udhu billah) is by no means fit to be made imam. Keep away from such a person’s company: who knows what other tricks he will use to lead people astray, so that even iman will not remain safe.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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