The Imam’s Announcement: “Whoever I Am Displeased With, God Is Displeased With”

Question

There was some ill-feeling between two persons. One of them announced after the Friday prayer: “Whoever I become displeased with, God will become displeased with him.” Of these two, one is the imam and the other a muqtadi (follower); the one who made the announcement is the imam. Now the question is: how is it to pray behind such an imam — is it permissible or impermissible?

Answer

If the reason for the displeasure is indeed something with which God the Pure is also displeased, then prayer behind this imam will not be called impermissible because of this announcement. However, this manner of announcing is wrong, because in it one’s own displeasure has been made the basis.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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