Can you pray behind a Shia?
Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind
Short Answer
You should not pray behind a Shia because it is certainly Makruh. The prayer will be invalid if they fail to fulfil the requirements of the prayer correctly. If it is an extreme Shia, then the prayer may be invalid irrespective of how they pray.
Explanation
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا، قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ، فَهُوَ رَدٌّ
(Sayidah) Aishah (May Allah Most High be pleased with her) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Whoever innovates something into this affair of ours, which is not in it, then it is rejected. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2697).
The general Fatwa regarding the Shia is that they are deviant Muslims. Therefore, we cannot pray behind a Shia. Praying behind people of Bidah or deviance is undoubtedly Makruh. However, if they are so extreme in their deviance that they fall into Kufr (unbelief) then the prayer will be invalid.
The Shia are Muslims but deviant. That is why prayer behind them is valid but Makruh according to the Hanafi position. In the following Nass (text) Imam Ibn Abideen explicitly mentions the validity of praying behind Shia.
(وَمُبْتَدِعٌ) أَيْ صَاحِبُ بِدْعَةٍ وَهِيَ اعْتِقَادُ خِلَافِ الْمَعْرُوفِ عَنْ الرَّسُولِ لَا بِمُعَانَدَةٍ بَلْ بِنَوْعِ شُبْهَةٍ وَكُلُّ مَنْ كَانَ مِنْ قِبْلَتِنَا (لَا يَكْفُرُ بِهَا) حَتَّى الْخَوَارِجُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَحِلُّونَ دِمَاءَنَا
(قَوْلُهُ حَتَّى الْخَوَارِجُ) أَرَادَ بِهِمْ مَنْ خَرَجَ عَنْ مُعْتَقَدِ أَهْلِ الْحَقِّ لَا خُصُوصَ الْفِرْقَةِ الَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا عَلَى الْإِمَامِ عَلِيٍّ – رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ – وَكَفَّرُوهُ، فَيَشْمَلُ الْمُعْتَزِلَةَ وَالشِّيعَةَ وَغَيْرَهُمْ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)
And an innovator. Meaning a person of innovation. Which is a belief that differs from what is known from the Messenger ﷺ. Not out of opposition, but rather out of error. And everyone who is from our Qiblah and is not deemed a disbeliever due to it. Even the Kharijites who consider our blood permitted.
His statement: Even the Kharijites, meant those who departed from the belief of the people of truth. Not specifically the group who rebelled against Imam Ali (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him). They declared him to be an infidel. Thus, that includes the Mu’tazilites, the Shiites, and others. (Imam al-Haskafi and Ibn Abideen, Radd al-Muhtar).
Cannot be extreme
Imam Ibn Abideen clarified that the general Fatwah of the Shia being deviant Muslims is restricted. If they are extreme, such that they unequivocally contradict the Holy Quran then such people are Kafir. Unquestionably, prayer behind such extreme Shia is invalid. Since prayer behind a Kafir is invalid.
وَبِهَذَا ظَهَرَ أَنَّ الرَّافِضِيَّ إنْ كَانَ مِمَّنْ يَعْتَقِدُ الْأُلُوهِيَّةَ فِي عَلِيٍّ، أَوْ أَنَّ جِبْرِيلَ غَلِطَ فِي الْوَحْيِ، أَوْ كَانَ يُنْكِرُ صُحْبَةَ الصِّدِّيقِ، أَوْ يَقْذِفُ السَّيِّدَةَ الصِّدِّيقَةَ فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ لِمُخَالَفَتِهِ الْقَوَاطِعَ الْمَعْلُومَةَ مِنْ الدِّينِ بِالضَّرُورَةِ، بِخِلَافِ مَا إذَا كَانَ يُفَضِّلُ عَلِيًّا أَوْ يَسُبُّ الصَّحَابَةَ فَإِنَّهُ مُبْتَدِعٌ لَا كَافِرٌ كَمَا أَوْضَحْته فِي كِتَابِي تَنْبِيهُ الْوُلَاةِ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)
Due to this it becomes clear that if the Rafidhi is amongst those who believed in the divinity of Ali, or that Jibreel made a mistake in the revelation, or he denied the companionship of al-Siddiq, or he slanders al-Sayidah al-Siddiqah, he is an infidel. Since he contradicted indisputable facts about the religion, that are known by necessity. As opposed to him favoring Ali or insulting the companions. In that case he is an innovator, not an infidel. As I explained in my book, Tanbih al-Wulaat. (Imam Ibn Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtar).
Earlier scholars
Earlier Hanafi Imams clarified the Hanafi position too. Thus, it is surprising that so many people are confused about it. In the following Nass (text) the sixth century Imam, Qadi Khan, explained that it is valid for one to pray behind a Shia or a deviant of another sect. However, if they are extreme in their deviancy, then it is invalid.
Praying behind such people was never encouraged. Rather it is Makruh. Therefore, it should not be practiced. The point of raising this issue is to clarify for people that Shia have always been consider deviant and not Kafir. And also, to deter Sunnis from praying behind them.
ويصح الاقتداء بأهل الأهواء إلا الجمهية والقدرية والرافضي الغالي ومن يقول بخلق القرآن وفي بعض الروايات إلا الخطابية وكذا المشبهة لا تجوز الصلاة خلفهم أما من سواهم يجوز الاقتداء بهم ويكره وكذا الاقتداء بمن كان معروفاً بأكل الربا والفسق مروي ذلك عن أبي حنيفة وأبي يوسف رحمهما الله تعالى. (فتاوى قاضيخان).
And it is valid to pray behind people of desire (innovation), except for al-Jahmiyyah, al-Qadariyyah, an extreme Rafidi or someone who considers the Quran to be created. And in some narrations al-Khattabiyah and likewise the anthropomorphist. Prayer is not permitted behind them. As for other than them, it is permitted to pray behind them but it is Makruh. And likewise, someone who is known to consume usury, or known for brazen sin. This has been narrated from Abu Hanifah and Abu Yusuf, May Allah Most High have mercy upon them. (Imam Qadi Khan 592H, Fatawaa Qadi Khan).
Conclusion
The reason for this discussion is not to encourage people to pray behind Shia. Rather it is to clarify that the prevalent blanket Fatwa of Shia being Kafir is incorrect. Had it been correct then prayer behind them would always be invalid. But this is not what has been stated by Hanafi Imams.
Therefore, Sunnis should not pray behind Shia but they should recognise that they are Muslims. Albeit misguided Muslims. As for the Fatwa of Kufr, that is only applicable to the most extreme amongst them.
Sadly, sectarian and political considerations have caused people to spread the notion that all Shia are Kafir. This is not the case. Sunni scholars need to stop the spread of such notions. As it is not only incorrect but further divides the Ummah and plays into the hands of the enemies of Islam.
And Allah Most High Knows Best.
–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (27.10.24)