If a regular Imam leads the Jumu‘ah

Q 2: In our country there are some employees especially appointed to make the call to Prayer; they sometimes lead people in Salah (Prayer) when the Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer) is not in the Masjid but they do not learn the Holy Qur’an by heart well. Most ordinary people who pray behind them know the Qur’an by heart. When any of those ordinary people proceed to lead people in Salah, they go against them and say they are the ones appointed for leading people in Salah in the Masjid and it is the government that had appointed them to lead people in Salah. What is the ruling on an Imam who leads people in Salah while they do not want him to?

A: If the mentioned people do not make Lahn (incorrect recitation due to mispronunciation of letters or grammatical mistakes) when reciting the Qur’an in a way that changes the meaning and are appointed by the Muslim rulers, and if when other people proceed to lead people in Salah this will cause division among the people offering Salah, there is nothing wrong in offering Salah behind them, (Part No. 6; Page No. 274) even if other people are better in the recitation of the Qur’an than them. This is so in order to prevent division and achieve unity.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.