Ruling on being led in Salah (Prayer)

Q: Is it permissible to offer prayer behind a man who is truthful in his words and deeds, offers the five prayers on time and observes all the obligations and supererogatory, except that he is one of those who visit the graves, offers sacrifices to them, and makes talismans to be worn. On telling him that such deeds are acts of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), he says that he believes that Allah is the Only One to be worshipped, and that He is the One Who brings benefit or harm, and in His Hand, is the dominion of all things, and that He is So and So, but he says that the amulets he makes are of the Qur'an and argues against this by Allah's Saying: And We send down of the Qur’ân that which is a healing If it is impermissible to pray behind people like this man, what should be done if a person gathers with them or travel with them, and if the prayer time becomes due, and one of them precedes to lead the prayer, should I dissociate from them and pray by myself ? Or should I join them in prayer then repeat it alone, or does it suffice to offer prayer with them? Knowing that they are relatives of mine, and dissociating from them in prayer may lead to the emergence of hatred between me and them, which may (Part No. 7; Page No. 358) result in great conflict and enmity.

A: If these people you mentioned offer sacrifices by the graves to their dwellers, they will be Mushrikin (people who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), committing major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), due to sacrificing to someone other than Allah and seeking the help of the dead in bringing benefit or warding off harm with what Allah (Exalted be He) did not prescribe. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). "He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims." He also says: Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only). Thus, Allah (Praised and Exalted be He) has ordained His honorable Messenger (peace be upon him) to be sincere in offering sacrifices to Allah Alone without an associate with him. But these people offer their sacrifices to the dwellers of the graves, to which their hearts are attached. Accordingly, they practice this by the graves seeking their blessings, just as the people of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) did for their idols - who were pious people during their lifetime - as they used to worship them to draw them closer to Allah, and whenever the Messenger (peace be upon him) censured their acts, they would say: "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah". It will not benefit the people you asked about to know that Allah has the sovereignty of everything in His Hand, and that He is the One Who brings harm and benefit while they are practicing such acts, just as the people of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance) were not benefited by admitting Tawhid-ul-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Allah's Lordship) while associating others in worship with Allah by offering sacrifices and slaughtering for the idols to become closer to them.Based on this, you should turn away from their shirk-involved gatherings and their idolatrous celebrations as Ibrahim Al-Khalil (Abraham) (peace be upon him), other Prophets and people who followed them in virtue did. You should also do your best to escape from this, to pattern after (Part No. 7; Page No. 359) Ibrahim (peace be upon him), in accordance with Allah's Saying (Exalted be He): Then, We have sent the revelation to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم saying): "Follow the religion of Ibrâhîm (Abraham) Hanif (Islâmic Monotheism - to worship none but Allâh) and he was not of the Mushrikûn (polytheists, idolaters and disbelievers). Unless it is a gathering to disapprove a Munkar (that which is unacceptable or disapproved of by Islamic law and Muslims of sound intellect), or to call to good. If it happens that you gather with them on the time of Prayers, you should not pray behind any of them. As for the amulets, it is impermissible to wear them, even if they are of the Qur'an for the general saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him) "Whoever wears an amulet commits an act of Shirk (Associating others in worship with Allah)''. And his saying (peace be upon him) "If one wears an amulet, Allah will not accomplish their affairs for them '' In addition to other authentic Hadiths of the same meaning.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.