This Q&A addresses the validity of praying behind an imam who follows a religious authority that is not widely recognized. It discusses the conditions of imitation (taqlid) for both the imam and the follower (ma'mum) and the implications of differing opinions on the validity of prayers.
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1 Answer
Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
Ayatollah Khamenei (may God protect him):
Firstly, regarding imitation (taqlid), every individual is required to follow someone they deem worthy of imitation according to the conditions of taqlid. It is not your duty to question the validity of the imam's imitation or that of others, as the validity of congregational prayer does not require the imam and the follower to have the same source of imitation.
Secondly, a difference in imitation between the imam and the follower does not invalidate the act of following. However, if the imam's prayer is considered invalid by the follower, whether through personal reasoning or imitation, then the follower cannot follow him. For example, if the imam is praying a shortened prayer while traveling, believing it to be valid, but the follower is praying a full prayer, the follower cannot follow the imam in this case.
Source: Fiqh al-Wali: Rules of Congregational Prayer (2)
Ayatollah Sistani (may God protect him):
Firstly, regarding imitation (taqlid), every individual is required to follow someone they deem worthy of imitation according to the conditions of taqlid. It is not your duty to question the validity of the imam's imitation or that of others, as the validity of congregational prayer does not require the imam and the follower to have the same source of imitation.
Secondly, if the follower and the imam differ in the components and conditions of prayer, whether through reasoning or imitation, and the follower believes—through a credible means—that the imam's prayer is invalid, then the follower cannot follow him. Otherwise, if the difference is in matters that can be overlooked by someone who is unaware, the follower may follow the imam. This applies similarly to external matters, such as if the imam believes the water is pure and uses it for ablution, while the follower believes it is impure, or if the imam believes his garment is pure and prays in it while the follower believes it is impure. In the first scenario, following the imam is not permissible, while in the second scenario, it is permissible.
There is no difference in what has been mentioned between starting and continuing the prayer. The key factor in all cases is that the imam's prayer must be valid in the eyes of the follower; thus, the follower cannot follow someone whose prayer is considered invalid by them—whether through reasoning or imitation. In other cases, following is permissible. This applies to what the imam carries for the follower, such as recitation, which has its details. For instance, someone who believes a surah is obligatory cannot follow someone who does not recite it before bowing, but once the imam bows, following him is permissible.
Source: Minhaj al-Salihin, Vol. 1, Conditions of the Imam of Congregational Prayer, Article 810
May you be successful in all good.