Azami 2251

Bukhari said in the Book of Adhan (695), Muhammad bin Yusuf said to us, Uzai narrated to us, Zuhri narrated to us, from Humayd bin Abdul-Rahman, from Ubaydullah bin Adi bin Khiyar, and he mentioned it. Muhammad bin Yusuf is Firyabi, Bukhari's teacher, and according to Ibn Salah's view the chain is connected.As for his statement, "the imam of tribulation," it is said that this refers to Abdul-Rahman Udays Balawi, one of the leaders of the Egyptians who besieged Uthman. Ibn Jawzi mentioned another man alongside him, Kinanah bin Bishr, one of their leaders, who also led the people in prayer. What indicates the validity of their prayer is that Uthman did not object to their leading the prayer, but rather mentioned that this act of his was among the best of deeds.Bukhari placed this chapter heading and mentioned within it the hadith of Uthman, and he appended to it the innovator, meaning one who holds a belief contrary to the people of the Sunnah and the community. He permitted prayer behind such a person, unless he holds rejection of the caliphate (rafd) or open shirk.Abdullah bin Umar used to pray behind Hajjaj bin Yusuf Thaqafi, and Hajjaj was a corrupt and oppressive man. Abdullah bin Masud used to pray behind Walid bin Uqbah bin Abu Muayt, who used to drink wine, so much so that he once led the people in the dawn prayer with four rakahs, then said, "Shall I give you more?" Ibn Masud said, "We have been getting more from you all day."Hasan Basri said, "Pray, and let his innovation be upon him." Zuhri said, "We do not think one should pray behind the effeminate man except out of unavoidable necessity." His statement, "except out of unavoidable necessity," means if such a person is placed in authority over us. For if one abandons prayer behind the appointed imam set by the ruler, and likewise behind the regular imam, this brings about great corruption. Among the objectives of the Sharia is to secure benefits and perfect them, and to prevent and minimize harms as much as possible. If someone wishes to change a situation and appoint an imam from the people of the Sunnah and the community, he should choose wisdom and good admonition, so that discord and strife do not arise among the Muslims.As for prayer behind one whose innovation or corruption is not known, the majority of scholars have permitted it, since it is not a condition of following an imam that the follower know the imam's beliefs, nor that he test him by asking, "What do you believe?" Rather, one may pray behind a person whose state is unknown.As for praying over the innovator, if his innovation amounts to disbelief, such as the innovation of the Jahmiyyah who deny the attributes of Allah Most High, or the extremist Rafidah who go to excess regarding Ali and the People of the House, believing them to be infallible like the prophets and seeking aid from them, then it is not permissible to pray over them.