Fatwa #283677 March 2014India
Can I perform Salat behind A Salafi Imam?
Question
Many of the muhaqqiq ulama whom I have heard ot read suggest that the ulama of Saudi who follow the Salafi manhaj have some serious problems in aqaid and fiqh. Even Mufti Desai Damat Barkatahum has suggested that thy are akin to Ahlul Bida. I have also been told by many ulama that in the haramain itis necessary to make iqtida of the Salafi imams. My question is whether reading salah behind the imams of haramain outside the Haram is permissible or recommended or is it disliked?
One of the Imams of Haram Sharif will be visiting my district in this month and he will be leading jumu'ah salah in sha Allah. Do you recommend going to pray behind the Imam Sahab considering the fact that the Imam is in all likelihood the follower of the Salafi School? WasSalam.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The Salāt behind the Imām of the Haram out of the Haram will be valid. Any further Shar‘ī ruling about a particular Imām can be given after further specific information about the Imām is known.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Muntasir Zaman
Student Darul Iftaa
USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.