Imamate of one who gives wrong rulings

Question

Is it permissible or not for the people of the locality to pray behind a person who often states rulings (masa’il) wrongly and takes pride in being a scholar?

Answer

If he leads the prayer correctly, the prayer will certainly be discharged; if he leads it incorrectly, it will be incorrect. Since he often states rulings wrongly, there will remain doubt regarding every prayer. When someone who knows and states the correct rulings is present, the one who states wrong rulings should not be made imam.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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