The imamate of one who took part in a dance-and-song gathering

Question

The imam led the prayer and went home. In the neighbourhood there was dancing and singing, or a crowd (?); a good many Muslims of the neighbourhood were taking part. Light was needed at that gathering. One man said, “Light the gas lamp,” but none of those present knew how to light it. People said, “Call the imam, he will light it.” So it happened, and then the imam went back home.

Answer

Staging dancing and the like and taking part in it is a sin; all who took part in it will be sinners. Calling the imam to light the gas lamp is even more wrong. At their call the imam lit the gas lamp; had he not come, they would all have turned against him — for now only one man opposes him, but then all would have opposed him.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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