The imamate of one who cursed the imamate

Question

There is an imam in our mosque, and his habit is to come five minutes late to lead the prayer. So, just a few days ago, when the imam did not come for the zuhr prayer, the imam’s younger brother led the prayer. But afterwards the respected imam also arrived, became very angry with the mu’adhdhin and said: “Did you have no eyes to see, that you did not see me? I was making wudu at the cistern.

Answer

You are troubled about [this] respected imam and have described his faults in seeking a fatwa; and then an opportunity has come to you: this respected imam has himself given up leading the prayer. Count it as a boon. He was asked again [to take up] the imamate, but he did not accept; rather, he cursed such an imamate.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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