[Q 341] A Ma’dhur Shar’iyy Person as the Imam

Question

Can a Shari Mazur person lead the salah if there is no one else available to lead the salah and they are the only person who has the sufficient knowledge and practical ability to lead the salah?

If this is not allowed, then does the salah have to be repeated?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

One of the fundamental conditions for leading Salah is that the Imam is not to be someone who is Ma’dhur Shar’iyy, i.e. someone who is excused by Islamic Law. This is because the purification of a Ma’dhur Shar’iyy person is incomplete.

In reality, his Wuḍu broke due to the occurrence of something that invalidates Wuḍu, but for the sake of granting him ease, Islamic Law considers his Wuḍu to be valid, but only to the extent of his own prayer.

Therefore, a Ma’dhur Shar’iyy person cannot lead those who are not Ma’dhur Shar’iyy, even if he has greater knowledge and understanding of the rules of Salah.

However, if a Ma’dhur Shar’iyy person maintains his Wuḍu for some time after completing it and then immediately leads the prayer such that from the time of Wuḍu to the completion of the Salah nothing occurred that would invalidate his Wuḍu, then his leading of that prayer will be valid.

Answered by: Usman Madani (Askmufti scholar)

Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated answer

Date: 24th May 2024