The ruling on leaving the role of imam to attend a lesson in religious knowledge

Question:
Your Excellency the Shaykh, may Allah bless you and make your knowledge beneficial, and we ask your permission to ask a few questions. This questioner, may Allah reward you, says: I am an imam in a mosque, but when I attend a lesson in religious knowledge, I am unable to pray in the mosque. Is there any sin on me for that?

Answer:
If you find someone who can substitute for you who is competent, then you appoint him, because this is a benefit in seeking knowledge, and you are on the path of good and righteous work. So if you find someone suitable for the imamah and appoint him in your place, praise be to Allah. But if you do not find anyone, or you find a person who is not suitable for the imamah, then remaining as the imam is obligatory upon you, and seeking knowledge is a recommended practice (sunnah). The obligatory is given priority, and the obligatory takes precedence over the recommended practice. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you.