The people are led in prayer by the one among them who is most proficient in reciting the Book of Allah

The questioner : Some imams prefer an imam who is closer to the Book of Allah than you are, and they insist on this condition for me.

The Shaykh : Some of them, some of them.

The questioner : I say, for example, they turn people away from certain individuals, and they prefer a person who is less qualified than a person who is merely adequate.

The Shaykh : However, if it is a regular imam who has been appointed, he remains in his position unless there is a defect. It is not said that if someone appears in the neighborhood who is more proficient than him, he should step down from the mosque; that is not said. But if it is at the beginning, it is obligatory for us to do as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded: the people are led in prayer by the one among them who is most proficient in reciting the Book of Allah.