BENEFIT: Praying Behind Innovators While Avoiding Their Lectures and Lessons

Question: Some people ask: How can you pray behind those who are Hizbiyyīn (People of innovation), yet you do not listen to their talks and lessons that they deliver? Sheikh Muhammad Ba Jammal hafidahullah: If there were anything in their prayer that invalidates it, then prayer behind them would not be valid. However, since the prayer itself is valid and they cannot introduce into the prayer something that would lead you into innovation or misguidance, then the prayer is valid. Accordingly, the view of the majority of scholars is that praying behind an innovator whose innovation does not reach the level of disbelief the prayer is valid. There is a difference between praying behind him and listening to his speech. Praying behind him is something regulated by the Shariah. For example, if he were to add an extra unit (rak‘ah), we would not pray behind him. If he did not recite Al-Fātiḥah in a unit, we would not pray behind him. If he were to introduce actions that invalidate the prayer such as bowing twice in one unit or making three prostrations we would not pray behind him. So, is it possible for him to add something into the prayer and confuse us? It is not possible. Therefore, if the prayer time comes upon us in a place and we know that the imam is an innovator, but his innovation does not expel him from Islam, then we may pray behind him with full confidence. Yes, if we find a Masjid of Ahlu-Sunnah, that is more beloved to us. However, listening to his speech is different his speech is something he composes, organises, and into which he introduces topics that suit his methodology and beliefs. So this is a clear difference. This was the way of the early salaf: they would pray behind innovators but would not listen to them.