BENEFIT: Being an Imam in a Jamaat Tableegh Masjid

Question: A strong student of knowledge was invited to be the imam of a masjid in which Jamaat Tableegh is present. Should he accept, considering that they hold their lectures in this masjid? Sheikh Yahya Al-Hajoori hafidhahullah: Whoever is capable of leading the people in prayer, establishing the Sunnah, and warning against innovations should do so according to his ability. However, if he is only serving as an imam while someone else has authority over sermons, lectures, da‘wah, and other affairs, then we advise him to look for another masjid. This is so that he does not witness evil while being unable to criticise it, or become gradually inclined toward those innovations over time. “Whoever keeps company with a person becomes like him.” And in the saheehain: “The example of a righteous companion and an evil companion is like the seller of musk and the blacksmith.” So if you are able to lead the people in prayer while also advising, teaching, being patient, and warning against mistakes — whether those mistakes come from Jamaat Tableegh or others — then proceed. Otherwise, Allah says while praising the believers {وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوا كِرَامًا} “And those who do not witness falsehood, and when they pass by vain talk, they pass by it with dignity.” [25:72] Among vain and false speech are fabricated hadiths and false statements. Source: https://t.me/almanhajussalafi/2334