Delaying the Ghusl of Janaba, and Eating and Drinking

Question

The imam of our place did not perform the ghusl of janaba at the time of Fajr and let the Fajr prayer lapse into qada’, and at Zuhr he performed ghusl and prayed; in between he kept smoking the hookah and eating bread and the like. Is this correct or wrong? — given that he was reproached for this conduct.

Answer

Letting the Fajr prayer lapse into qada’ and delaying it until Zuhr without a Shar‘i excuse is a major sin (kabira). But whatever he ate and drank without ghusl is not haram.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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