Following Qadiani Imam in Salah.
Question:
Assalamu alaikum,
Dear Mufti, I am writing to you to seek some advice. A gentleman has proposed marriage to me, he is a kind, humble human being who reads his Quran and his salaat regularly, he is a good man and we are compatible.
My problem however is that he lives in Freeport and attends a masjid whose Imam is Ahmadiyyah. He says he is not Ahmadiyyah and does not follow or has any belief in any of their practices, the masjid is close to his home and sees nothing wrong with reading salaah behind that Imam. His reason being, is that, what the Imam says in salaat is what we all say in salaat and therefore he sees nothing wrong with following the Imam in salaat.
I know that the Ahlus sunnah wal Jamaah believes the Ahmadiyyah to be Kafirs. Will this gentleman also be considered a Kafir because he reads behind them even though he does not believe in Mirza Ghulam and his teachings? Can you also shed some light on why these people are considered Kafirs so that i may understand this a little bit more. He believes only Allah swt can Judge what is in the hearts of men and that we should not judge those people.
Is it acceptable for him to read salaat behind these people? If not can you send me some information to help him understand why he should not be reading salaat there. He has a good character and is very honest and sincere, qualities that are very difficult to find today however I do not want to do anything to hurt my Imaan in anyway so I’m asking for help through your knowledge in this matter.
Answer:
Wa Alaikum As Salaam,
The beliefs of the Ahmadiyah are in total opposition to the creed of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah, and so, all the scholars of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah have considered them to be unbelievers (Kaafir). This being the case, it will not be permissible for one to perform Salaah behind one who is an Ahmadiyah since it is the same as performing Salaah behind a kafir.
However, by performing Salaah behind such a person one will not be a kafir or an Ahmadiyyah. His Salaah will be invalid, and he must repeat all the Salaah he performed behind the Ahmadiyah Imam.
It is not permissible for him to perform Salaah behind the Ahmadiyahs or Qadianis.
The brother must stop attending their masjid and must not perform Salaah behind any of them. This is not a matter of choice or closeness of a masjid, it is a matter of Imaan and kufr.
It is not only what the Imam says in Salaah, it is also about what he (the Imam) believes in.
And Allah knows best,
Mufti Waseem Khan
12/3/2013