Imamate of one who said: “If I lie, may my resurrection be worse than Abu Jahl’s”

Question

A certain man is a graduate in Arabic, that is, a religious scholar, and is also a regular imam, and moreover teaches in a religious institution. Concerning another teacher, who for quite some time had also been the imam of the town, talk spread of an incident of sodomy and masturbation; before this, too, it had happened several times.

Answer

To declare someone a criminal, either his own confession or a Shari‘a proof (the testimony of eyewitnesses) is required; as long as neither of these exists, he cannot be declared a criminal. Further, in such a situation, to say “If I am lying in what I am saying, may my resurrection be worse than Abu Jahl’s” is extremely dangerous.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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