Qualifications To Lead The Solāh?

Qualifications to Lead the Solāh?

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-`ālamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu alayhi wasallam, is His Messenger.

There are many sahih hadiths on the qualifications as the most right person to lead the Solāh. One of these hadith is that which was narrated from Abu Sa`id al-Khudri(radiyallāhu`anhu), who said that the Prophet  (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam)  said:

“If there are three people, let one of them lead the others in Solāh, 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 (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said:

“The people should be led in prayer by the one who has most knowledge of the Qur`ān and has been reciting it for longer. If they are equal in their knowledge and reading of the Qur`ān, 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 should be noted the hadith clearly indicated that the one who has the most right to lead the others in Solāh is: the one who has most knowledge of the Qur`ān and of the Fiqh of Solāh.

Those who knew more of the Book of Allah were appointed to lead the prayers at the time of the Sahābah, 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`ān. 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 Solāh.

If they are equal with regard to knowledge of the Qur`ān, then the one who knows more about the Sunnah should lead the Solāh. 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 Solāh, as is indicated in the hadith of Malik Ibn Al-Huwairith (radiyallāhu`anhu).

Malik (radiyallāhu`anhu) said: “We came to the Prophet, (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam), and we were young people, close in age. We stayed with him for twenty days, and the Messenger of Allah, (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam), was kind to us. When he thought that we were missing our families, he asked us about those whom we had left behind, and we told him. Rasulullah (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) 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 perform Solāh as you have seen me Solāh When the time for Solāh comes, let one of you call the Adzān and let the oldest among you lead the Solāh.”

[Narrated by Al-Bukhari, no. 6705].

If they are equal with regard to recitation of the Qur`ān, knowledge and Hijrah, the Prophet (Sallallāhu`alayhi wasallam) commanded that the eldest of them should be appointed to lead the Solāh. 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 honourable 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 resolve amicably based on the principle of consensus rather than trapped in the dispute.

Having a PhD or having lived the longest in the land of the kuffar does not qualify a person to lead the Solāh. The one who has memorized more Qur`ān and has more knowledge of the Fiqh of Solah is the one who should be appointed.

It is not right and worthy to be trapped in dispute over the leadership of the Solāh on the basis of their personal whims and desires. They should appoint the person who is described by syari`ah as being qualified to lead the Solāh.

And Allāh Almighty Knows best

[ Via Islam Q&A ]

Description Of The Prophet’s Solāh

1. The Introduction; 1.6. Clearing the Misconceptions
 2.1. Facing the Ka`abah ;  2.2. Standing in Solah ; 2.3. Intention ; 2.4. Takbīratulihram ;

2.5. To Gaze towards the Place of Sujud and Humility;

2.6. Opening Supplications of Solāh; 2.7. The Recitation;

 2.8. Ruku ;  2.9. Sujud;   2.10. Second Rak`ah ;  2.11. First Tashahhud;
 2.12. Standing up for the Third, and then the Fourth Rak`ah;
 2.13. The Final Tashahhud;  2.14. The Taslim.

3. Appendixes.; 4. Glossary ; 5. Bibliography.

All About The Solah

1.  The Purification; 2. The Menstruation; 3.  The Ghusul ;

4. Al-Wudhu’ ; 5. Tayammum;

6. The Adzān;

7.  The Status and Significance of Solāh; 

8.  The Pre-Conditions of Solāh; 9. The Pillars of Solāh; 10. The Sunnah Part of the Solāh;

11.   Adhkar in the Solāh; 12.   Du'ā Al-Qunūt;

13.   Places Where Offering Solāh Is Prohibited ; 14.   Placing a Sutrah In front of One Who is Performing Solah;

15.   What is permissible During the Solāh?; 16.   The Acts that Renders Solāh Invalid; 17.   Disliked Actions during the Solāh; 18.   The Solāh in Times of Fear or Danger; 19.   The Solāh of a Sick Person ;

20.   The Prostrations of Forgetfulness of Solāh;

21.   The Excellence of Nawafil Solāh;

22.   Solāh of a Traveler; 23. Solāh Qasar ; 24.  Solāh Jama’; 25. The Solāh Jama’ ;

26.   The Masajid; 27.  The Etiquette at the Masjid;

28.   The Excellence of Congregational Solāh ;

29.   Solāh al-Jumu`ah; 30. The Sanctified Hour of Jumu’ah.

31.   The Virtues of Friday; 32. The Etiquette for Solāh al-Jumu`ah ;

33.   Dzikirullāh after Solāh; 34. Du`ā Recited After the Solāh. ;

35.   Reasons for doing Sujud Al-Sahwi ;

36.   Solāh al-Hajjat ; 37. Solāh al-Tahajjud ; 38. Solāh al-Tarawih ;

39.   Solāh al-Dhuha ; 40. Solāh al-Hajjat ; 41.  Solāh al-Istikhārah ;

42.   Solāh al-Janāzah; 43. Solāh al-Jumu`ah;

44.   Solāh al-Kasuf ; 45. Solāh al-Khauf ; 46. Solāh al-Marid; 47. Solāh al-Tahajjud ;

48.   Solāh al-Tahiyyyatul Masjid; 49. Solāh al-Tarawih; 50. Solāh al-Tawbah ;

51. Solāh al-Witr; 52.   Solāh al-Wudhu’ ; 53. Solāh Eid ul Fitr