Imamate of one who habitually abandons the sunna

Question

Zayd is the imam of a mosque and also teaches children hifz (memorisation of the Qur’an), for which he receives two separate salaries. This imam does not pray the sunnas of any of the prayer times, whether emphasized or non-emphasized. When told about it, he says there is nothing wrong in not praying the non-emphasized ones. Everyone knows this, but what about deliberately not praying them every single time? This conduct of his influences the ignorant section [of people] as well, and his students do the same.

Answer

Habitually abandoning an emphasized sunna and making a habit of leaving it is misfortune. It is a cause of being deprived of the intercession (shafa‘a) of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Appointing such a person as imam is makruh. Diligence in observing the sunnas is required.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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