Ruling on Praying Behind an Imam Who Believes the Prophet ﷺ Was Created from Light

8-3-2026 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu alaykum shaykh My question is whether it is permissible to pray behind the imam of my local mosque who say that Allah created Muhammad (pbuh) from his own noor (light).Also nowadays tarawih is going on in that mosque should I join them although the imam who leads tarawih is another person and I don't know what beliefs he holds but he is for sure a sufi. Please tell me what to do as referring to other fatwas won't help me.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

The ruling on whether it is permissible to pray behind an innovating imam depends upon the nature of the innovation he commits. If the innovation amounts to disbelief, then it is not permissible to pray behind him. If it does not amount to disbelief—such as the innovation referred to, which may stem from misinterpretation—then it is preferable to pray behind someone whose creed is sound, so long as that is reasonably possible. If it is not feasible, then there is no harm in praying behind him.

The claim that our Prophet ﷺ was created from the light of Allah is false and fabricated, with no evidence to support it. It arises from the prohibited exaggeration in religious matters and is among unsound beliefs. To say that it conflicts with the Qur’an would not be far-fetched. It appears that those who hold this view rely on a fabricated hadith, which is lengthy and includes the statement: “O Jabir, indeed Allah created, before all things, the light of your Prophet from His light.” Al-Ghumari stated in al-Mughir ʿala al-Ahadith al-Mawduʿah: “It is a fabricated hadith.” [End quote.]

Our Prophet ﷺ is from the descendants of Adam; he is a human being, as clearly stated in the Qur’an: {Say: I am only a human being like you.}

Allah Knows best.