The Imamate of a Scholar Who Keeps Company with Innovators

Question

Zayd holds the status of an ‘alim, but he sides with the innovators (people of bid‘a), eats at their feasts and the like. What is the ruling on praying behind such a person? Were the prayers offered [behind him] in ignorance valid or not?

Answer

Does Zayd himself also practise bid‘a? And then — what kind of bid‘a is it? If it reaches the level of shirk, such as prostrating to a grave, then prayer behind him is impermissible. If it is a minor bid‘a at the level of a minor sin, then the prayer is permissible.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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