Is it permissible to pray behind an Imam who says that the Ash'ari creed is our creed, and praises the Burda poem, and permits saying to a person, "فرج علي كربتي" (Relieve my distress), and believes that celebrating the Mawlid is not an innovation, and calls for visiting specific graves, and permits associating with Sufis who form circles and say "Ah, ah," and is it obligatory to repeat the prayers that were performed behind him if praying behind him is not permissible?

The mentioned Imam combined several innovations (bid'ah), including: Ash'arism, the Qasida al-Burda which contradicts monotheism (Tawhid), celebrating the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid), the Sufi dhikr with the singular Name (Allah), Sufism, and addressing people with the phrase "relieve my distress" if the person is dead or unable to provide aid, and visiting the graves of saints to seek their help.

As for praying behind him, if he is an innovator (mubtadi') whose innovation is not considered disbelief (kufr), then scholars have differed on the ruling regarding repeating the prayer. However, if his innovation is considered disbelief - such as seeking aid from other than Allah or believing that saints know the unseen - then prayer behind him is not valid.