The ruling on the prayer of one who does not obey the imam

Question

The respected imam tells people to stay at the gathering of the Tablighi Jamaat; some people do not stay and leave. The respected imam says that whoever does not obey the imam, his prayer behind that imam is not valid. What is correct?

Answer

If a person leaves because of his own need and does not stay there, he will not be able to gain the benefits to be had there — that is all, nothing more. His prayer behind that imam will be valid. Not staying there will cause no defect in his prayer. The respected imam should not say such a thing: what he says is wrong.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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