Prayer of a Hanafi behind another Imam

inshallah im sure bhai muadh will clarify the issue ...... if it means rocking boats :-)

AssalaamsWW bhai Muadh,

If poss I would be grateful if you can further expand on this part with a few clear examples (of the differences in wudhu) "...because the method or conditions of Wudhu.. ".

JZK

Having understood all of the above, one must not misunderstand an important aspect here! Although things are permitted, we CANNOT mix Madhabs to suit our need of the day. If you do that then there is no difference between, "You and the Ghari Muqallid"

I have read through the blog post, I normally always read Bhai Muadh's blogs. I wish to make clarification on the issue, and perhaps you can please relay it to him from my side.

Firstly, the issue here is not about the masah being acceptable according hanabila or not. The issue is the consideration for the validity of a muqtadi's salah depending on the madhab of the muqtadi. While other madhahib may differ on this usool, the principle in hanafi madhab is as stated.[ii]

Hence, if it is established that the particular Imam made masah on such socks, then according to hanafi madhab, the wudhu is not complete. Hence iqtidaa (following) behind him is also invalid. BUT this is when one saw the imam making masah on socks for that particular salah.

If it is normally known that certain Imam occasionally makes masah on the socks, then that is not sufficient enough to render the salah behind him invalid. So in such a case investigation is not binding on us. Perhaps he did not make masah on socks for that salah.

Therefore, the advice of Bhai Muadh Khan of "the superior method would be for you to remove doubt from your worship and if there is another congregation available then you should opt to pray behind an Imam who is not wiping on thin socks according to Hanafi Madhab." would be applicable only when one did not see the Imam actually making masah on normal socks. If one saw such, then being a hanafi the salah will not be valid.

Wallahu A'lam

[ii]
ثم قال: ظاهر الهداية أن الأعتبار لاعتقاد المقتدي و لا اعتبار لاعتقاد الامام. (رد المحتار، ج 2، ص 7، ايج ايم سعيد)

ورد بأن المعتبر في حق المقتدي رأي نفسه لا غيره (رد المحتار، ج 2، ص8

Hence, if it is established that the particular Imam made masah on such socks, then according to Hanafi madhab, the Wudhu is not complete. Hence iqtidaa (following) behind him is also invalid. BUT this is when one saw the imam making masah on socks for that particular salah.

i guess it gets on certain peoples goaties (for want of a better/appropraite word!) when the imam isnt doing his salaah and even more so he's wiping over his socks isnt according to their school .....[/quote]

My view.



[quote]Now, if someone who has not studied Islamic law is allowed to
choose any juristic view without consulting the arguments pertaining
to those views, he will be at liberty to select only those views which
seem to be more fulfilling to his personal requirements. This attitude
will lead him to follow his own desires and not the guidance-a practice
totally condemned in the Holy Qur'an.

For example, Imam Abu Hanifa رضي الله عنه is of the opinion that bleeding
from any part of the body breaks the wudu', while Imam Shaf'i رضي الله عنه
believes that bleeding does not break the wudu: On the other hand,
Imam Shaf'i رضي الله عنه says that if a man touches a woman, his wudu'stands
broken and he is obligated to make fresh wudu'before offering prayer,
while Imam Abu Hanifa رضي الله عنه insists that merely touching a woman does
not break the wudu.

How can the practice of "pick-and-mix" be allowed? A layman may
well choose the Hanafi opinion in the matter of touching a woman
and the Shaf'i view in the matter of bleeding. Consequently, he will
deem his wudu' unbroken even when experiencing both situations
together (i.e. he has bled and happened to touch a women) even
though his wudu'stands broken now according to both Hanafi and
Shaf'i opinions.

This is exactly my point and I believe we all agree to this. Most likely, we will not see this happen so it would be safe for us to pray behind them.