The Hadith "Whoever Prayed behind a God-Fearing Scholar"

Question

"Whoever performed a single prayer behind a God-fearing imam, it is as if he prayed behind one of the prophets of the Children of Israel; and whoever prayed behind a pious, practicing scholar, it is as if he prayed behind me." Is this found in any book of hadith?

Answer

This narration is found in "al-Hidaya": [ar]مَنْ صَلَّى خَلْفَ عَالِمٍ تَقِيٍّ فَكَأَنَّمَا صَلَّى خَلْفَ نَبِيٍّ[/ar] "Whoever prayed behind a God-fearing scholar, it is as if he prayed behind a prophet." In "Nasb al-Raya", vol. 2, p. 26, it is described as gharib (a report with a single, insufficiently corroborated chain), and no takhrij (source verification)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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