The appointment of an imam: Is it specific to travel?
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The second question of Fatwa No. ( 18188 )
Q 2: Is it permissible to appoint an imam for a group of residents? That is: It is known that it is a Sunnah that if three people are traveling, one of them should be their leader. Is it permissible for there to be a leader over a group in their own land, who are not travelers but are residents?
Vol. 2: It is authentically narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith of Abu Sa'id and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them both), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 2608Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) It was narrated by Abu Dawud with a good chain. This is, as is apparent from the hadith, in the case of travel; as for residence, the authority belongs to the one who has been given charge of the city by a legitimate Shari'ah authority, and every ruler is according to his capacity. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q 2: Is it permissible to appoint an imam for a group of residents? That is: It is known that it is a Sunnah that if three people are traveling, one of them should be their leader. Is it permissible for there to be a leader over a group in their own land, who are not travelers but are residents?
Vol. 2: It is authentically narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith of Abu Sa'id and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them both), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When three are on a journey, they should appoint one of them as their commander.
إذا خرج ثلاثة في سفر فليؤمروا أحدهم
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.