the early generations and the imams as religious innovators. However, when Friday and congregational prayers can be performed behind a righteous imam, that is preferable to performing them behind an immoral one. If someone nevertheless prays behind an immoral imam without an excuse, the ruling is a matter of scholarly judgment.

Some scholars hold that he must repeat the prayer, because he has done something not sanctioned by the Sharia: by praying behind such a person, he has neglected his duty to condemn wrongdoing. His prayer behind that imam was therefore forbidden, so he must repeat it.

Others hold that he need not repeat it. They explain that the prayer itself is valid, while the failure to condemn wrongdoing is a matter separate from the prayer. This resembles conducting a sale after the call to Friday prayer.

However, if he can only pray behind that imam, as in the case of Friday prayer, then the prayer is not to be repeated. Repeating it is a practice of religious innovators. Some jurists have assumed that, if prayer behind an openly sinful imam is held to be invalid, Friday prayer performed behind him must be repeated; otherwise, it need not be repeated. But this is not so. Rather, the disagreement over repeating the prayer concerns cases in which a person is forbidden to pray behind that imam. When, however, he is commanded to pray behind him, the correct view is that he need not repeat the prayer, for, as explained earlier, the servant has not been commanded to perform the prayer twice.