POSITION OF AN IMAM LEADING PRAYER

QUESTION:

As Salaamu Alaikum,

Alhamdulillah I am responsible for selecting different Huffaz to lead jumuah salaah in a certain musallah. My question is, if there are Huffaz whose hair styles are inappropriate, like long at the top and very short at the side then will myself and the authority be sinful for letting such Huffaz lead the jumuah salaah?

Answer:

Wa Alaikum As Salaam,

Bismillahi Wa Billahi At Tawfeeq

The Fuqaha have written that it is Makrooh for a faasiq (an open sinner) to lead the prayer. As such, it is not permissible for a person with an impermissible haircut to lead the Salaah.

The position of an imam is a very important one. Therefore, you should choose a person who follows the laws of the Sharia and practices on the sunnah, to be the Imam.

(Rad Al Muhtar 1/559-560)

And Allah knows best.

Mufti Waheeb Saiyed

14/1/2022