The Permissibility of Praying Behind a Faasiq (one who sins publicly):
`Ubaidullaah ibn `Adiyy ibn Khiyaar narrated that he entered upon `Uthmaan ibn `Affaan (radiyallaahu `anhu) while he was confined in his house, and said:
“You are our Imaam, and now you have been afflicted with what we are seeing, and now an Imaam of Fitnah leads us in Salaah, which is hard upon us.” He replied:
“Salaah is the best deed that the people do, so if the people do good, then be good with them, and if they do evil, then shun their evil.”
Reported by Al-Bukhaaree (695) in his Saheeh. See also: Marwiyyaat-uz-Zuhree-il-Mu`allah (39).
Zaid ibn Aslam narrated that no leader (Ameer) would come in the time of the Fitnah except that Ibn `Umar (radiyallaahu `anhumaa) would pray behind him and pay him the Zakaah.”
Authenticated by Al-Albaanee (Al-Irwaa’, 2/303), Shu`aib Al-Arna’oot (Sharh-ut-Tahaawiyyah, 2/567) and Zakariyyaa Al-Baakistaanee (Aathaar-us-Sahaabah, 1/352).
