The Imamate of a Forger and Deceiver

Question

A certain man named Muhyi al-Din, to whom we have shown many kindnesses: our late uncle, at a time of his extreme hardship and destitution, arranged a rented room for him, saw to his food and so on, and by strongly recommending him to the committee of a mosque obtained for him the post of imam of that mosque, and so forth.

Answer

Lying, fabricating a forged deed of sale through deception, and unlawfully seizing another person's house are impermissible according to the Shari‘a and a grave sin. If the events described are indeed so and there is no falsehood in them, then appointing such a person as imam is makruh tahrimi until the imam repents and reforms himself; the prayer behind him will be performed…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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