What is the ruling regarding following another person in prayer when the direction of prayer (Qibla) is unknown, and one is following the judgment of another in this uncertainty?
Chapter on Facing the Qiblah
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
When two individuals exercising Ijtihad in determining the Qibla are accompanied by a blind person, the blind person must follow the one whom he finds to be the most trustworthy in his own estimation, the most knowledgeable according to him, the most truthful in speech, and the most diligent in seeking the correct direction, because the truth is closer to him. Similarly, the ruling applies to a sighted person unable to ascertain the evidence or learn it before the prayer time expires; his obligation is also to follow the most trustworthy individual among them in his own estimation. The preferred view, adopted by the Shafi'i school, is that the prayer of one who follows a less preferable Mujtahid (one deemed inferior) is valid, because the follower has relied upon evidence permissible for him to follow had he been alone.
Supporting text
The apparent position of Al-Kharqi suggests that if the less preferable individual is followed, the prayer is invalid because the follower abandoned what he strongly believed to be the truth, similar to a practicing jurist abandoning his own finding. However, the sounder opinion holds the prayer valid because the follower utilized permissible means of guidance, even if another possessed superior guidance.