Following One Who Ascribes Knowledge of the Unseen to the Prophet ﷺ

Question

Is it correct to follow in prayer (iqtida’) one who ascribes knowledge of the unseen (‘ilm al-ghayb) to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and holds this belief, or not?

Answer

Making one whose belief amounts to kufr an imam and following him is by no means permissible. Prayer behind him is not valid. [ar]ويكره إمامة عبد وأعرابي وفاسق وأعمى إلا أن يكون أعلم القوم، ومبتدع لا يكفر بها، وإن كفر بها فلا يصح الاقتداء به أصلًا[/ar] “The imamate of a slave, a Bedouin, a fasiq and a blind man is makruh — unless he is the most knowledgeable of the people —…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.