Is our prayer behind a Sufi imam valid?

The Sufis have specific actions, sayings, or beliefs that have no basis in Islamic law. Some of these are acts of disbelief (kufr) and others are not.

If the imam adheres to heretical innovations that constitute disbelief, it is not permissible to pray behind him. However, if he adheres to heretical innovations that do not constitute disbelief, it is permissible to pray behind him, although people of the Sunnah are more deserving of leading the prayer.

Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked about praying behind a Sufi imam who does not clasp his hands [in prayer] and does not place his knees before his hands in prostration. He replied: If he is known for upholding monotheism and is not a polytheist, and his worship is for Allah alone, then the mere fact that he does not clasp his hands does not prevent praying behind him; because this action is a Sunnah and not obligatory.

When asked about the ruling on praying behind someone who visits the graves of righteous people to seek blessings and recites the Quran at Mawlids for a fee, Sheikh Ibn Baz provided a detailed answer: - If the celebration of Mawlids is merely an innovation without polytheism, then he is an innovator, and he should not be an imam, but his prayer is valid. - However, if he invokes the dead and seeks their aid (such as saying: "O Messenger of Allah, help me" or "O my master Husayn, grant me aid"), then this is major polytheism (shirk akbar), and one should not pray behind him, nor is his imamate valid. - Reciting the Quran at graves or praying there, if it does not involve polytheism, is an innovation, and he must be taught and guided. His prayer is valid unless he prays in the graveyard, for prayer in the graveyard is not valid due to the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their prophets as places of worship."