The right person to lead the Solah

Who has the most right to lead the prayers?

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid


In my community there are a few who regarded that they are the "most noble and learned", always assume the imam position in prayer and never request that another brother to lead. In fact, one of them even said "there is no one here more qualified than myself." I am not sure the reason what make them feel they are the most qualified. Perhaps they are the oldest among the Jama’ah, living longer in the community or they are of a particular nationality or dress. There are some brothers who have  memorized much of the Qur'an but they never want to become imam because they do not want to be associated with the arrogant ones.

Is it permissible or even preferred for who are learned denied becoming the imam because of perhaps humility? Are these two situations (the assuming of becoming imam and the denying of it) two extremes that Allah may be displeased with? If so, what should the people in the Jama’ah do in this situation?


In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
All the praise and thanks is due to Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

The most right to lead the others in prayer is: the one who has most knowledge of the Book of Allah and of the Fiqh of Solah.

Many sahih ahaadith have been narrated which explain to the Muslims who is most qualified and has the most right to lead the prayers. One of these ahaadith is that which was narrated from Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (radiallahu`anhu), who said that the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:

“If there are three people, let one of them lead the others in prayer, and the one who has the most right to lead them is the one who knows more Qur’an.”

[Narrated by Muslim, no. 1077]

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:

“The people should be led in prayer by the one who has most knowledge of the Qur’an and has been reciting it for longer. If they are equal in their knowledge and reading of the Qur’an, then they should be led by the one who made hijrah first. If they are equal with regard to hijrah, then they should be led by the one who is older…”

[Narrated by Muslim, 1079]

It is indicated by these ahaadith, the one who has the most right to lead the others in prayer is: the one who has most knowledge of the Book of Allah and of the Fiqh of Solah.

Those who knew more of the Book of Allah were appointed to lead the prayers at the time of the Sahabah, because they had learned the correct way of reciting the ayat and they had learned the knowledge contained therein and the deeds prescribed by the Qur’an. So they combined knowledge and action [they acted upon what they had learned], and did not stop at merely memorizing as is the case nowadays. How many people learn all or part of the Qur’an, take care to recite it properly and with a beautiful voice, but they do not know anything about the Fiqh of Solah.

If they are equal with regard to knowledge of the Qur’an, then the one who knows more about the Sunnah should lead the prayer. If they are equal with regard to knowledge of the Sunnah, then the one who made hijrah first should lead the prayer. If they are equal with regard to hijrah, or if this does not apply, then the one who is older should lead the prayer.

In the hadith of Malik ibn al-Huwayrith (Radiallahu’anhu), who said:

We came to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam), and we were young people, close in age. We stayed with him for twenty days, and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was kind to us. When he (s.a.w) thought that we were missing our families, he (s.a.w) asked us about those whom we had left behind, and we told him. He (s.a.w) said,

“Go back to your families and stay with them. Teach them and instruct them” – and he said some things I remembered and some that I forgot. “And pray as you have seen me praying. When the time for prayer comes, let one of you call the Adzan and let the oldest among you lead the prayer.”

[Narrated by al-Bukhari, no. 6705]

If they are equal with regard to recitation of the Qur’an, knowledge and hijrah, the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) commanded that the eldest of them should be appointed to lead the prayer. If they are equal in age, then the one who is most righteous (has most taqwa) should be appointed, because Allah says:

“Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has al-Taqwa (is one of the pious)…”
[Al-Hujurat, 49:13]

If they are equal in all regards, then they should have an election, if there is a dispute.

Having a PhD or having lived the longest in the land of the kuffar does not qualify a person to lead the prayers. The one who has memorized more Qur’an and has more knowledge of the Fiqh of Solah is the one who should be appointed. It is not right for Muslims to dispute over the leadership of the prayers on the basis of their personal whims and desires. They should appoint the person who is described by shari’ah as being qualified to lead the prayers. We ask Allah to reform the Muslims.

Allah Almighty Knows Best

[Excerpted with modification from Fatwa No: 1875 Islam Q&A ]