The Imamate in Prayer; Is It for the One with the Best Recitation and Tajwid, or for the One with the Most Memorization?
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The questioner : The Imamate in Prayer; Is It for the One with the Best Recitation and Tajwid, or for the One with the Most Memorization?
The Shaykh : The principle is that no distinction is made between the one with the best recitation and tajwid and the one with the most memorization; because memorization, according to the Shari'ah, should be as it was revealed, and reciting the Qur'an as it was revealed requires maintaining the etiquettes of tajwid and the etiquettes of recitation that the scholars of tajwid mentioned in their books; therefore, if a man is more memorized but does not recite well, he is not preferred over the one who has less memorization but recites well; because this recitation is what is intended, as in his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 980Sahih (Darussalam).
And this is sufficient, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
The Shaykh : The principle is that no distinction is made between the one with the best recitation and tajwid and the one with the most memorization; because memorization, according to the Shari'ah, should be as it was revealed, and reciting the Qur'an as it was revealed requires maintaining the etiquettes of tajwid and the etiquettes of recitation that the scholars of tajwid mentioned in their books; therefore, if a man is more memorized but does not recite well, he is not preferred over the one who has less memorization but recites well; because this recitation is what is intended, as in his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
The people should be lead by the one who is most well-Versed in recitation of the Book of Allah
يؤمُّ القوم أقرؤهم لكتاب اللهAnd this is sufficient, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
Source
www.al-albany.com
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