Performing prayers behind Tafdilis

by Seeker

Imam Ahmad Rida Khan Baraylawi

Translated by Abu Hanzala

(Released by www.aqdas.co.uk)

Question

It is the unanimous belief of Ahlu’s Sunnah wa’l Jama’ah that Sayyīdina Abū Bakr al-Siddīq radiyAllahu ‘anh is the best of men after the Prophets ‘alaihim assalam. Zayd and Khālid are both Sayyids. Zayd says that whoever gives precedence to ‘Alī radiyAllahu ‘anh over Abū Bakr Siddīq radiyAllahu ‘anh; Salâh behind such a person is makrūh. Khālid says that I openly proclaim that ‘Alī radiyAllahu ‘anh has precedence over Abū Bakr Siddīq radiyAllahu ‘anh and every Sayyid is Tafdīli and Salah behind Tafdīlis is not makrūh. Moreover, whoever says that Salah behind Tafdīlis is makrūh; then Salah behind such a person is itself makrūh.

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Answer

There is a consensus of all Ahlu’s Sunnah that Siddīq Akbar and Fārūq A’adham radiyAllahu ‘anhuma are greater than Mawla ‘Alī karramAllahu ta’ala wajhahu’l karim. It has been explained by the Imāms that whoever gives precedence to Mawla ‘Alī upon these two is an innovator and heretic and Salah behind such a person is makrūh. Fatawa Khulasa, Fath al-Qadīr, Bahr al-Ra’iq and Fatawa Alamgīrī and many other books have it: Inna fadla ‘Aliyyan ‘alaihima famubtadi’ [If someone gives precedence to ‘Alī over Siddīq and Fārūq, he is a Mubtadi]. It is in Ghunya and Radd al-Muhtar: Salah behind a heretic is makruh in all cases. It is in Arkan Arba’a: Salah behind a Tafdili Shi’a is strongly prohibited. Strongly prohibited means makrūh tahrīman; performing it is a sin and it is wājib to repeat.

And Allah ta’āla knows best.