The Imamate of an Accused Person

Question

1۔ An imam who leads the five daily prayers, teaches children in a religious madrasa, advises people to do good and forbids evil, accuses another imam of committing sodomy with a minor boy. The mosque imam swears by Allah that he has not committed any immoral act. Should the statement of the boy be accepted, who claims that the imam behaved indecently with him three or four times, or should the imam’s oath be accepted? And what is the ruling on praying behind such an imam? 2۔

Answer

The imam cannot be declared guilty merely on the statement of this minor boy and therefore cannot be considered deserving of a legal punishment in Shariah. The statement of the imam accompanied by an oath is to be considered reliable. To accuse someone without Shariah evidence is a major sin.

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.