Answer: Subscribing to polytheism, which means willfully
adopting it, is one thing and succumbing to a form of polytheism while at the
same time thinking that it is not polytheism is entirely another. While the
former makes a person a grave sinner in the eyes of the Almighty, the latter may
afford him some excuse if he has fallen into it in spite of sincerely trying to
avoid it. No doubt, people who invoke the help of saints are committing a form
of polytheism, but if you have a discussion with them on this, they will tell
you that what they do is certainly not polytheism and falls within the ambit of
monotheism.
Praying behind ‘such’ imams cannot be regarded as
prohibited. Of course, if you had a choice you could have gone to some other
mosque. Since you do not, praying in congregation behind an imam who has some
wrong views is better than praying individually at home.
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