Issue 693: The Imam must be sane, just, of legitimate birth, twelve-Imam Shi'ite (Shi'ah ithna-ashari) and as a recommended precaution, a mature person, and must be able to offer the prayers correctly. As a recommended precaution, if the followers are males, the Imam should also be a male; but to follow a child who is not a discerning and discriminating child is not right.

Issue 694: A person who once knew an Imam to be just, can still follow that Imam if he/she doubts the Imam's being just.

Issue 695: One, who offers prayers in standing position, cannot follow a person who offers prayers in sitting or lying positions; Similarly, one who offers prayers in sitting position, as an obligatory precaution, cannot follow a person who offers prayers in lying position.

Issue 696: If for any reason, the Imam offers prayers with Tayammum or Jabeerah Wudhu, or offers prayers in impure clothes, others are allowed to follow him.

Q697: Sometimes, the Sunnite Imams, recite those chapters which entail obligatory prostrations while offering prayers, and the followers prostrate and stand up again during the Imam's recitation. What will the case be if a person intentionally or unintentionally avoids such a prostration?

And what if they ignorantly prostrate and stand up again?

A: In the case of following Sunnite Imams, one must dissimulate and follow the congregation. But generally when a person hears a verse of the Holy Quran which entails an obligatory prostration, they must prostrate just by moving their head down and then perform the prostration after the prayer is finished, but to avoid such a prostration while praying does no harm to the prayers and is just a case of ignoring a religious duty; However, to add a bow invalidates one's prayers, since it is an elemental part of prayers and increasing or decreasing the number of the elements, whether intentionally or unintentionally renders the prayers void.

Q698: Regarding the fact that one of the Imam's qualities is to be a just person, what are the criteria to ensure such a thing?

A: To ensure that the Imam of the congregation is a just person one can consider the following criteria:

1- One's own certainty about that.

2- The Imam’s having an acceptable appearance.

3- The approval of two persons.

4- The Imam's being known and famed for good qualities.

5- The Imam's being followed by some of the local people.

Q699: If at the time of prayers we reach a mosque or some other place where congregational prayers are being offered, are we allowed to follow that congregation without investigating the Imam?

A: You do not need to investigate the Imam, and as some believers and local people follow him, if their following the Imam ensures his/her being a just person, it will suffice.

Q700: Is it permissible for the Imam to offer midday and afternoon prayers three times but with three different groups of people in the same place with the intention of Ada' (Prayers offered within the prescribed time)?

A- It is permissible.

Q701: What is the case of following an Imam who is not a just person in the eyes of the follower, but is followed from expediency?

A: In such a case, the follower's prayer is not valid; However if he/she follows that Imam, to preserve the unity of Islamic Ummah, it will be admirable and they must redo their prayers later.

Q702: Is it allowable to follow an Imam who has a hump on his/her back?

A: It is allowable.

Q703: Is it allowable for a person with physical disability who is unable to use one of their hands or legs properly but still can stand on their legs to be the Imam of a congregation?

A: It is permissible and to follow such people in prayers is the same as following other qualified Imams, because the prayers of the Imam will be valid regarding his/her religious duty and such disabilities do not violate the way people follow him and also do not violate the from of the congregation.

Q704: Is it obligatory for an Imam with an amputated limb to let the followers know about the amputation?

A: If regarding the principles of imitation, the Imam considers his/her prayers valid, it will not be necessary to notify others of the amputation, and the followers will not need to redo their prayers if they learn about it later.