The Imamate of One Who Does Not Take Part in the Mawlid and the Tenth-Day Memorial Gathering

Question

What is the ruling on a person who does not pray behind the imam solely because the imam does not take part in the tenth-day memorial gathering and the mawlid? Will our prayer behind such an imam be [valid] or not?

Answer

The customary mawlid, the tenth-day memorial gathering and the like are not established [in the Shari‘a]; they are bid‘a. If the imam does not take part in these things, his imamate is not impaired. Whoever does not pray behind an imam who does not take part in these things is in error, abandons the sunna and is deprived of the reward of the congregation; he should desist.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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