Can we perform Salaat behind a Mufti and a Maulana who had defrauded Discovery Medical Aid?

Answer

According to the Shariah Salaat is valid behind a Muslim even if he is a faasiq/faajir (a flagrant and immoral sinner). If he happens to be the imaam, the musallis have to perform Salaat behind him. However, the trustees of the Musjid who appoint a faasiq to lead the Salaat are sinners.

The contention that a sin is a 'small gunah', is exceptionally evil. Every sin is a big sin. There is no such thing as a 'small gunah'. When the punishment for every sin is the Fire of Jahannam, it is indeed stupid to say that the sin of fraud is a 'small gunah'. The 'mufti' who said so is not a genuine Mufti. He is a fraud who has no respect for Allah's Law. Hadhrat Aishah (Radhiyallahu anha) said: "Beware of regarding sin as being small." The Mashaaikh say that the one who says that a sin is small is in fact saying that Allah Ta'ala is small – Nauthubillah!