Following and Imaam whose Son has Done Wrong Print
SALAAH.. The Book of Prayer - Congregation and Imamah [leading the Salaah]

Following and Imaam whose Son has Done Wrong

Q: Salaah-625: A man had divorced his wife thrice but still lives with her, claiming that the Halaalah had been done. His father however doubts this and is upset with his son on this account. Although he has told the son to leave the wife, the son refuses. Now will it be permissible to follow the father in salaah, can he call out the Adhaan and can he teach children in the Madrassah?

Answer: If the father really is unhappy with the son's behaviour, it will be wrong to blame him and hold him accountable for the son's doings. The Qur'aan makes it clear that the load of one person's sins cannot be burdened on to another. In the stated case, it will therefore be permissible to follow the father in salaah without this being Makrooh at all. It will also be permissible for him to call out the Adhaan and to teach children in the Madrassah.

If the father doubts that Halaalah was done, he must insist that the son leaves the wife. However, if the son is adamant to keep his wife without Halaalah, the father should separate himself from him. Only if he is not prepared to do this, will a'question mark surface on his post as Imaam. The Musallis will then have cause to relive him of the post. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2