Praying Behind the one who Smokes or Shaves his Beard
Question:
Esteemed Shaykh may Allaah grant you that which is better, what is your opinion regarding an Imaam that smokes or one that shaved his beard?
Answer:
The issue of praying behind the one who shaves, that which is correct, is that the prayer behind the sinful one (Faasiq) is correct because there is no proof removing the validity of the Imaamah of the sinful Imaam. However, there is no doubt that it is not permissible for the one who is in authority to place in the mosques one who is sinful and an open sinner. And it is also correct if one was to find a mosque wherein the Imaam possessed Taqwa that is not with this one (the sinful Imaam) and goes to it.
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen
Liqaa'at al-Baabil Maftooh, vol.3, p.46.
Translated by Abu Maryam Taariq bin 'Ali
