Leading the prayer after promising not to lead it

Question

A man made a promise on the minbar (holding the khutba in his hand) that he would no longer lead the prayer. But now some people again want to appoint him as imam. Will our prayer behind him be valid or not? And what is [the ruling on] his leading the prayer after the promise?

Answer

The one who, holding the khutba in his hand on the minbar, promised that he would not lead the prayer ought to fulfil his promise and not lead the prayer. But if the people make him imam, then his prayer and everyone’s prayer will be valid — provided that he possesses the competence for leading the prayer and there is nothing in him that contradicts the office of imam.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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