The Imamate of an Innovator

Question

If the imam is an innovator (bid‘ah practitioner), will the prayer behind him be valid or not? It is mentioned in a hadith: “Allah refuses to accept the deed of the person of innovation until he abandons his innovation” (Ibn Majah). Likewise, is prayer valid behind misguided sects or not?

Answer

If the innovating imam is involved in a bid‘ah that entails disbelief (kufr), then his imamate is not permissible and prayer behind him is not valid. If his innovation does not amount to disbelief, and he observes the obligatory (fard) and necessary (wajib) elements of prayer while leading it, then the prayer behind him is valid.

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