Chapter on the Rulings of Congregational Prayer (the Minimum Number for Congregational Prayer, the Description of the Imam, Who Is to Be Followed and Who Is Not to Be Followed, Recitation Behind Both of Them, the Rulings of Those Led in Prayer, and Other Such Rulings Related to It)

Al-Husayn ibn Said from Ibn Abi Umayr from Umar ibn Udhaynah from Ali ibn Said al-Basri, he said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “I am residing among Bani Adi, and their muadhdhin and imam (of prayer) and all the people of the mosque are Uthmanis, they disassociate themselves from you (Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام) and your Shiah, and I am living among them. What do you say regarding prayer behind their imam (of prayer)?” Imam عليه السلام said: “Pray behind him.” He (al-Basri) said: “Imam عليه السلام then said to me: ‘And seek reward for what you hear. And if you were to go to Basrah, al-Fudayl ibn Yasar would surely ask you, and you would inform him of what I have issued to you as a verdict and then you would follow al-Fudayl’s word and leave mine.’” Ali (al-Basri) said: “So I went to Basrah and informed al-Fudayl of what Imam عليه السلام had said. He (al-Fudayl) replied: “Imam عليه السلام knows better what he said, but I have heard Him عليه السلام and I have heard his father (Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام) both saying: ‘Do not count the prayer behind a nasib (known enemy of the Ahlulbayt عليه السلام), and recite to yourself as if you were alone.’” He (al-Basri) said: “So I followed the statement of al-Fudayl and left the statement of Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him.”