Thus, evidence for articulating the intention exists only in these two situations; in every other case, pronouncing the intention is an innovation, foreign to the practice of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and to the practice of the righteous early generations. Allah knows best.
Conditions for Leading the Prayer
Question: What are the conditions for imamate? Who are those behind whom it is impermissible to pray? And must someone who has prayed behind such a person repeat his prayer or not?
Answer: The most important conditions for imamate include:
- Uprightness (ʿadālah): the imam must be just in his religion and not an openly sinful person.
- Proficiency in the prescribed recitation during the prayer: he must be able to recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah correctly, without an error that alters its meaning.
- Knowledge of the jurisprudence of his prayer: awareness of what may arise during it and the rulings he needs to know concerning the prayer itself, forgetfulness within the prayer, and the like. These are among the chief conditions for imamate.
Those behind whom prayer is not permissible are those who do not fulfil these conditions—for example, a flagrantly sinful person or an illiterate person who cannot recite al-Fātiḥah properly. Such individuals may only lead others who are like themselves.
As for the remainder of the question—namely, the ruling on one who prayed behind someone who does not meet the conditions of imamate