Jummah obligation

Salam
Thanks for the reply, however when you say that a just good imam means being a zaydi imam, could you explain why a Sunni imam wouldn’t be valid considering they’re deemed valid for the daily prayers to be prayer behind ?
Thanks

Wa alaykum as-salam,

It seems there may be some misunderstanding.
According to the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (alayhim as-salam), performing prayer behind a fasiq (sinner) is not valid.

It is important to clarify that the term fasiq is not limited to someone who commits a major sin; it also includes a person who holds incorrect beliefs (aqidah), which are considered fundamental rather than minor issues.

There are many reasons a person could be considered a fasiq.

For example, someone from a different sect, Sunni, Imami, or others, may hold views that involve misconceptions about Allah or other key aspects of the creed.

Scholars who hold such beliefs are considered sinners by definition.

Laypersons, however, are generally excused and regarded as normal Muslims, provided they do not show opposition to the truth.

In short: according to the Ahl al-Bayt,alayhim as-salm, one cannot perform prayer behind a sinner (fasiq).

Wa salam

But I’ve seen on this website multiple times stated that we can pray behind a Sunni imam and overall zaydis are know into pray in Sunni mosques behind Sunni imams ? So if now your saying Sunnis can come under fasiq and we can’t pray behind a fasiq so why is it allowed to pray behind sunnnis then?
Sorry not to pester just genuinely confused
Jazakallah
Thanks

Akhil Kareem,

I have read the brother’s statements on this forum in which it is said that one may pray behind a Sunni. However, from what I have seen, it was never stated that one may pray behind a fāsiq, nor that one may pray behind a Sunni despite him openly displaying incorrect ʿaqīdah. On one occasion, the brother worded it as follows:

"6. According to the Fatawa of Sayyid Allama Abdur-Rahman ash-Shaguri (ra), one is permitted to pray behind anyone as long as they have sound beliefs. Believing in tajseem would definitely disqualify one from being prayed behind."

If you pay close attention to the wording, you will see that it is not significantly different from what I stated.

Please also understand that when researching Zaydism, one should not overlook the fact that, unlike Sunnism, it is open to ijtihād. There is the classical Hadawī school, which every Zaydi studies, and then there are contemporary mujtahid scholars who at times arrive at different, more nuanced conclusions. This is why you may occasionally notice discrepancies between the formal school positions and the actual ʿamal of the people in Yemen.

In addition, many Zaydi laymen are not fully aware of the details of their own school, just as many Sunni laymen are not well-versed in theirs. Furthermore, there are individuals, such as the former president Ṣāliḥ, who are of Zaydi lineage and may identify as Zaydi, yet in practice hold views that are essentially Sunni.

What I am presenting here are the standard positions of our school. Contemporary mujtahids may hold differing opinions. One such opinion I have encountered is that one may pray behind anyone, so long as he has not expressed anything incorrect regarding ʿaqīdah.

Wa-salām.