congregation in any mosque is absolutely permissible, a new Bid‘ah was born in the grand mosques such as: Al-Azhar mosque and Al-Husain mosque and many others in Egypt and in other muslim countries; two Im?ms -sometimes more- are appointed for the same mosque [and each establishes his own congregation]. In Al-Azhar mosque, for example, there are two Im?ms; one for the old Qiblah and the other for the new one, the same thing is done in done in Al-Husain mosque. In the latter, a Sh?fi‘? Im?m performs Fajr Sal?t in its early time and another Hanaf? Im?m, leading another congregation, performs it in its later time. The Hanaf? scholars and their students never do their Sal?t behind a Sh?fi‘? Im?m even if it is being performed in their presence. In the aforementioned mosque, one could see the many congregations that perform Sal?t simultaneously -believing this act to be the Sunnah. Doing so, they are all indeed sinners. Unfortunately, this Bid‘ah even spread in the Holy Mosque in Makkah -as I heard; there were four Imams- each follows a different Mathhab -to lead four congregations. However, I did not witness such a thing my self for I performed Hajj during King Abdil ‘Az?s’s Ibn Abdir Rahm?n ?l Su‘?d reign and I heard that he eradicated such a Bid‘ah and made people gather behind one Im?m. May All?h ( - عز وجل -) help Muslim ‘Ulamah eradicate such a Bid‘ah in all their mosques through out the world guided by His bounty and help. He is indeed Sam?’ Ad-Du‘?’. (1)

[2/ 46] Shaikh Ibn Taymiyyah was asked regarding the one who performs his Sal?t behind an Im?m who follows a different Mathhab than one’s own; is one’s Sal?t valid behind this Im?m? Did any of the Salaf held that a follower of one Mathhab must not perform one’s Sal?t behind an Im?m who follows another Mathhab? Is it a Bid‘ah to claim such a view?? And if the Im?m did the Sal?t in a manner he believes to be correct and the Ma’m?m believes the opposite; is the Ma’m?m’s Sal?t considered correct in such a case??