Q: Is it allowed for high ranking non-Muslim officials or MLAs or ministers to participate in the line of congregational prayer such as eid, etc.?
A: A non-Muslim's prayer and namaaz is invalid. How is he going to stand for prayer with Muslims when his namaaz is not valid. The prerequisite for the validity of namaaz is Islam. Like a person who does not have clothes his namaaz is invalid. Worse is the case of a disbeliever.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
Q: As Muslims are the weakest section and minority in all respect here, not only unable to resist, sometimes inviting them to participate due to the fear of their evil view and consequence. Thus they are wooing for collective support for vote in terms of integrity and secularism or other benefits we don't know.
On the other hand, as they are polytheists having no steadfastness and seeking blessings from our Allah besides their various deities.
My questions are:
1. Will the salaah of Muslims in the line or all be valid?
2. Should we repeat?
3. Will the masjid be impure or not? If impure what shall we do?
4. Should they be ignored in all Islamic ritual functions?
A:
1. A non-Muslim's prayer and namaaz is invalid. How is he going to stand for prayer with Muslims when his namaaz is not valid. The prerequisite for the validity of namaaz is Islam. Like a person who does not have clothes his namaaz is invalid. Worse is the case of a disbeliever.
2. No.
3. If their bodies and clothing are impure and that impurity touches the carpet of the musjid then that spot will be impure.
4. When they do not believe in Islam how can they perform an Islamic ritual. It is illogical to say that they can join in a ritual. The precondition for joining in a ritual is Imaan and Islam. Like wudhu is a precondition for the validity of namaaz.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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