Benefit 73: Praying behind an innovator / sinful Muslim

QUESTION: What is the ruling on praying behind someone who wears their trousers below the ankles? ANSWER by Sheikh Abdulḥamīd Az-Zu'kari ḥafidhahullāh: Prayer is valid behind every righteous and wretched FROM THE MUSLIMS. This is from creed of the Salaf, so a Muslim should comprehend the likes of these critical issues. Prayer, or any act of worship, is not invalidated except through evidence from the Qur'ān or Sunnah. In his Ṣaḥīḥ compilation, Bukhāri gives the chapter heading: باب الصلاة خلف المفتون والمبتدع Chapter: the (allowance/validity of) prayer behind the Maftūn (someone who has been subjected to fitnah, here it refers to an immoral Muslim) and the innovator. And he cited the Athar of Ḥasan: “Pray (behind him), and his bid'ah will be against him (i.e. it doesn't affect your prayer).” And the ḥadīth of ’Uthmān when he instructed ’Ubaidullāh ibn ’Adiy ibn Khiyār to pray behind the Khawārij, despite them being callers to turmoil and misguidance. Likewise in the ḥadīth of Abu Hurairah: “Pray (behind them); if they do well, it is for you and them, but if they fall short, it is for you and against them.” And it is mentioned in the ’Aqīdah of Aṭ-Ṭaḥāwiyyah: “We believe that prayer is to be offered behind every righteous and wretched from the Muslims.” As long as their innovation has not reached the level of Kufr, such as the Rāfiḍhah, Jahmiyyah, Bāṭiniyyah, and the grave worshippers from amongst the Ṣufis. Otherwise, the Aṣl (base rule) is to pray behind any Muslim; whether he is Sunni, and this is better if possible, or behind an innovator or a sinner. And the opposite is also true; i.e. Preventing people from praying behind a Sunni imām is bid'ah. If prayer behind a mubtadi' imām whose innovation has not reached the level of Kufr is considered Sunnah and from the way of the Salaf, then preventing people from praying behind the Sunni imām is considered a Bid'ah and contrary to the way of the Salaf. This critical issue needs to be comprehended. Don't say, 'I'm a Sunni so I won't allow any mubtadi' to pray behind me. I don't want any Hizbi or Sufi praying behind me.' Rather even the Bāṭini (disbelieving sect who claim Islam) can pray behind you. Even the hypocrite; ’Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salūl (the chief of the hypocrites) and other than him from the hypocrites used to prayed behind the Prophet ﷺ. Even the one who is boycotted can pray; Ka'b ibn Mālik (raḍhiyallāhu ’anhu) used to pray behind the Prophet ﷺ even though at the time the Prophet ﷺ prohibited people from speaking to him and he instructed them to boycot him. He even commanded his own wife to boycot him. Despite that he used to come and pray behind the Prophet ﷺ without anyone preventing or hindering him. This is the House of Allāh. No one who seeks it should be prevented; if they come seeking to pray therein. Source: https://t.me/madrasatuna/2526