Prayer behind an imam with artificial teeth

Question

Zayd is the imam of a mosque. He constantly suffers from severe toothache. On a doctor’s advice he had all his teeth extracted and had artificial stone teeth fitted. Because of the fitted teeth the letters do not come out correctly. Kindly inform us whether prayer behind an imam who has had artificial teeth fitted is proper or not, given that this imam has been leading the prayer for 32/34 years. Is it permissible to remove this imam because he has had artificial teeth fitted?

Answer

Having artificial stone teeth fitted does not cause any defect in the imamate; on this basis, removing him is not correct.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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