Performing Salaah Behind an Imaam whose has Repented from his Evil Ways

Q: Salaah-402: A Haafidh was the Imaam at our Masjid but became involved with a girl who often visited him at the Masjid. When the trustees of the Masjid learnt about it, they confronted him and dismissed him after he confessed to his crime. He then repented for his crime and married another woman. He now wishes to be the Imaam of another Masjid. Will it be permissible to perform salaah behind him?

Answer: The act that the Imaam perpetrated was very wrong and unbecoming of his post. It will be Makrooh to perform salaah behind him until he repents and desists. However, since he has done this and the people feel that he has repented sincerely, he will be able to lead them in salaah. Rasulullaah SAW. said, "The one who repents from a sin is like one who had never sinned." It will no longer be correct to regard him as a sinner and Faasiq. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2