An imam sending his children to a Deobandi Qur'ān teacher

Question

"What do the scholars of Dīn and the Muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following matter: An Imam of a Sunni mosque has admitted to sending his children to study the Glorious Qur’an under a teacher affiliated with a Deobandi mosque. In justifying this, the Imam cited that some committee members also send their children to non-Sunni mosques and that the education system in those institutions is superior. Is the Imam’s reasoning valid according to the Sacred Law, and is it permissible to perform Ṣalāh behind such an Imam?"

Answer

The role of an ‘imām within a community is to serve as a guide and role model for the general public. It certainly does not befit the position of the ‘imām to attempt to excuse his own misdoings by pointing to the doings of others. The entirety of one’s community may be involved in a sin, but it is the ‘imām who is to warn them and remain steadfast in following and calling towards the way of righteousness. The ‘imām has an obligation to lead others and set an example – not follow the public in their acts of sin. This social obligation of an ‘imām is clearly demonstrated in the statement of the Noble Messenger, upon him be blessings and salutations:

ألا كلكم راع وكلكم مسئول عن رعيته فالإمام الذي على الناس راع وهو مسئول عن رعيته

“Beware, each of you is a shepherd, and each of you are accountable to questioning regarding his flock. Thus, the ‘imām is the one who is the shepherd of the general people, and he is accountable to questioning about them.”

[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7138]

Furthermore, to act righteously is ultimately an individual responsibility, efforts to blame others for the sin is the way of the disbelievers and a fruitless endeavor. The ‘imām’s excuse fails to excuse him for the burden of his misdoing. To form relationships with the misguided and to trust the misled with the faith of one’s own seed and offspring is an extremely careless act. Upon being asked regarding sending one’s children to learn from deviants, Sayyidunā ‘A`lā Ḥaḍrat, upon him be mercy, states:

حرام حرام حرام اور جو ایسا کرے بدخواہ اطفال ومبتلائے آثام

“[It is] Ḥarām, ḥarām, ḥarām! He who does this wishes ill for his children and is engaged in sins!”

[‘Aḥkām e Sharī`at, Section 3, Query 8]

An individual who engages in sin and justifies it is unworthy of the sacred position of ‘imāmah – to pray behind such an individual will be avoided. To pray behind an open sinner is not permissible, and any ṣalāh already prayed behind him must be repeated. Bahār e Sharī`at states:

اور فاسق معلن جیسے شرابی، جواری، زناکار، سود خوار، چغل خور، وغیرہم جو کبیرہ گناہ بالاعلان کرتے ہیں ، ان کو امام بنانا گناہ اور ان کے پیچھے نمازمکروہ تحریمی واجب الاعادہ

“Appointing a public sinner — such as a drunkard, gambler, fornicator, usurer, gossiper, or anyone who openly commits major sins — as an imām is a sin. Praying behind such an individual is prohibitively disliked, and it is necessary to repeat the prayer.”

[Bahār e Sharī`at, Vol. 3, Chapter: Who is More Worthy of ‘Imāmah?]

In order to become deserving of this sacred position once again, the ‘imām must fulfill his responsibility of repentance from his act of sending his child to study from such a person and from the words he uttered to defend his doings.

Furthermore, the claim of the ‘imām, that, “the educational system in those institutions is superior,” shall neither be upheld in the court of the sharī`ah and nor rendered valid in the court of reason. A luxurious castle built on unstable ground will inevitably collapse. Likewise, institutions built on misguidance, no matter how appealing, hold no real value. The greater they appear, the harder they will fall. The guided institutions may certainly require efforts of improvement in several areas, but they stand on the unshakable foundations of the ‘Ahl al-Sunnah and this much alone is proof enough to establish their superiority over the schools which pollute the minds of our own with misguidance, and Allāh knows best.

Faqīr Sayyid `Abdul Ṣamad al-Qādirī · (may he be pardoned) · Ramaḍān 11, 1446 AH

Verified by Muftī Zāhid Ḥussain al-Qādirī