Who Has the Right to Appoint an Imam

Question

In our village there is a man known as “Mullah.” His work is slaughtering animals and handling shrouding and burial of the deceased. However, he has never regularly performed or led the daily prayers, nor has he led the prayers or delivered the sermons of the two Eid prayers. Despite this, he claims that the right to lead the Eid prayer belongs only to him and that the congregation has no right in this matter. He says: “This is my right,” and by deceiving the collector he obtained a document confirming his claim.

Answer

A person who does not regularly perform the daily prayers is considered a fāsiq (open sinner). Appointing such a person as an imam is makrūh taḥrīmī (prohibitively disliked). It is stated: “The leadership in prayer of a fāsiq, even if he is knowledgeable, is disliked because it shows lack of concern for the religion.

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