The permissibility of a traveler leading the prayer for resident worshippers if he is the most proficient in recitation and there is no regular imam among them
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If there are residents and a traveler, does the traveler step forward and lead them in prayer, since he is the most qualified for the imamate? And if he leads them, does he shorten the prayer, considering that it may cause confusion for them, as most of them are common people or school students, for example?
If he is the most proficient in recitation and there is no regular imam among them, he is the most qualified for the imamate. He prays two rak'ahs and says the taslim, and he informs them beforehand that he will pray two rak'ahs because he is a traveler. The fact that it causes confusion for them is due to ignorance of the Sunnah. If this Sunnah were known and clear to people, there would be no confusion. So, his praying two rak'ahs, saying the taslim, and informing them beforehand that he is a traveler and will pray two rak'ahs serves to spread the Sunnah.
The questioner: Young students.
The Shaykh: Even if they are young students, if they are young students and he fears they might misunderstand, there is no harm in saying to the resident: You pray.
The questioner: Even if he is an open sinner?The Shaykh: La ilaha illa Allah! Even if he is an open sinner, the open sinner's prayer is valid, and if one's prayer is valid, then his leading the prayer is valid.
If he is the most proficient in recitation and there is no regular imam among them, he is the most qualified for the imamate. He prays two rak'ahs and says the taslim, and he informs them beforehand that he will pray two rak'ahs because he is a traveler. The fact that it causes confusion for them is due to ignorance of the Sunnah. If this Sunnah were known and clear to people, there would be no confusion. So, his praying two rak'ahs, saying the taslim, and informing them beforehand that he is a traveler and will pray two rak'ahs serves to spread the Sunnah.
The questioner: Young students.
The Shaykh: Even if they are young students, if they are young students and he fears they might misunderstand, there is no harm in saying to the resident: You pray.
The questioner: Even if he is an open sinner?The Shaykh: La ilaha illa Allah! Even if he is an open sinner, the open sinner's prayer is valid, and if one's prayer is valid, then his leading the prayer is valid.