The regular Imam of the masjid was not in attendance in the mosque during some nights. The men prayed congregation behind another man. The Imam of the masjid is stating our salat needs to be repeated because he did not authorize congregation salat in the mosque in his absence.
If the Imam of the masjid was not present and was not coming that night to the mosque, and we prayed congregation salat, is it in accordance with Islamic rulings? Is it recommended to pray congregation in the mosque since we are together? Or should we follow the Imam of the masjid and not pray it?
If the place is not a charitable endowment (waqf) and it does not have an authorized custodian (mutawally), then the position of regular imam (imam al-ratib) does not apply and the matter is nothing more than a mere contract and agreement between the management of the place and the person in charge of leading congregational prayer, and there is no Islamic justification in that contract that justifies non-establishment of congregational prayer when the Imam is not present. Hence, there is no meaning to the imam’s objection. Otherwise, God forbid this may be considered an act of repelling others from the path of Allah, as it is evident that congregational prayers in the Mosque is one of the most important rituals In Islam, which Islam has highly stressed.