Is the leadership of a deaf person valid in congregational prayer?
Chapter on Imamate and Congregational Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
The Imamate of a deaf person (Asamm) is valid. This is because the deaf person does not violate any actions or conditions of the prayer, thus resembling a blind person whose Imamate is valid. If the person is both deaf and blind, their Imamate remains valid for the same reason. The validity is established because a potential occurrence, such as the Imam forgetting or making a mistake, which cannot be corrected, does not invalidate the prayer when its existence is not certain.
Supporting text
Some scholars among our associates hold that the Imamate of a deaf person is invalid because if they err (sahwa), they cannot be alerted through Tasbih (glorification) or a gesture.