The imamate of one who commits subtle errors (lahn khafi)

Question

Zayd is the imam and khatib of the congregational (jami‘) mosque; moreover he is a dandy: he keeps the upper end of his turban drawn out. In his recitation he reads certain verses with unusually great prolongation and attributes this to his melodious voice. For example, in Surah al-Fatiha, in «إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ», he prolongs the alif very much, carrying it into the form of a musical mode; in «أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ» he prolongs «عليه» very much, while he shortens «ولا الضالين، آمين».

Answer

The imam ought to be, among all the worshippers, the one who is most acquainted with the rules of prayer, who recites the Noble Qur’an correctly and who follows the Sunna. If he is not acquainted with the rules of prayer, recites the Noble Qur’an incorrectly, and does not adhere to the Sunna and the Shari‘a, then making such a person imam is makruh tahrimi.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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