between them, as with other rights. If one of them attends to the maintenance and care of the mosque, then he is more entitled to it. Likewise, if the neighbors are satisfied with one of them over the other, he is given precedence on that basis. No precedence is given based on handsome appearance, for it has no role in the Imamate and no effect upon it. All of this constitutes a precedence of recommendation (istihbab), not a precedence of condition (ishtirat) or obligation (ijab). We are aware of no disagreement regarding this; thus, if the less qualified is given precedence, it is permissible because the command for this (12) is a command of propriety and recommendation.

251 - Issue: He said: "And whoever prays behind someone who makes his bid'a (innovation) public, or who gets drunk, must repeat the prayer."

Making something public (al-i'lan) is the act of manifesting it, and it is the opposite of keeping it secret. The apparent meaning of this is that whoever follows one who manifests his innovation, speaks of it, invites others to it, or debates in its favor, must repeat the prayer. As for one who does not manifest his innovation, there is no need for the follower to repeat the prayer, even if the Imam holds such beliefs. Al-Athram said: I said to Abu 'Abd Allah: "The Rafida who speak of what is known?" He replied: "Yes, I command him to repeat it." It was said to Abu 'Abd Allah: "Is it the same for all people of innovation?" He said: "No, for among them are those who remain silent, and among them are those who refrain and do not speak." He also said: "Do not pray behind any of the people of vain desires (ahl al-ahwa') if he is an inviter to his desire." He also said: "Do not pray behind a Murji'i if he is an inviter to his doctrine." His specification of the "inviter" and the one who speaks as those for whom repetition is required, as opposed to one who refrains and does not speak, indicates what we have stated. The Qadi said: The one who makes bid'a public is the one who believes in it based on an argument, while the one who does not make it public is the one who believes in it by mere imitation (taqlid). We say: The reality of making public (i'lan) is to manifest, and it is the opposite of concealment and secrecy. Allah the Almighty says: {And He knows what you conceal and what you make public} (1), and Allah the Almighty says, informing us about Abraham: {Our Lord, indeed You know what we conceal and what we make public} (2). Furthermore, the one who manifests his innovation leaves no excuse for the one who prays behind him, due to the clarity of