peace and blessings be upon him, and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, did you forbid them to pray behind me?’ He replied, ‘Yes. You have offended Allah and His Messenger.’”

If he is removed from leading the prayer for this reason, or the congregation refrains from praying behind him for this reason, that is permissible. And Allah knows best.

He was asked about a learned jurist who had memorized the Quran but had a disability: his left arm lay behind him from the shoulder, and he had fleshy fingers. People had said that praying behind him was not permissible.

He replied:

If both his hands reach the ground when he prostrates, praying behind him is permissible without dispute. The disagreement concerns only someone whose hands and feet have been amputated, or similar cases. But if he can prostrate on the seven bodily parts mentioned by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when he said:

“I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones: the forehead, the two hands, the two knees, and the two feet,”

then his prostration is complete, and the prayer of those behind him is complete. And Allah knows best.