Wiping the Whole Head and the Ears Is an Emphasized Sunna

Question

The respected hafiz of a certain mosque wipes (mash) only ¼ of the head and does not run his finger around all sides of the ears, saying: "This is [only] an emphasized sunna (sunna mu'akkada)." Because of this many people have stopped praying behind him. When he was told, he did not accept it and did not repeat the prayers. So what is the ruling regarding him?

Answer

It is necessary that the imam be the most knowledgeable of all in the rulings of purification and prayer. When an emphasized sunna is left out, the fard prayer is fulfilled and repeating it is not wajib; yet habitually leaving out an emphasized sunna is also by no means a light or trivial matter.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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