What is the legal ruling on the prayer of a person who leads people in prayer but does not wish for them what he wishes for himself, and who is an imam while there is someone more correct than him?
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The questioner : I ask about the legal ruling on the prayer of a person who leads people in prayer but does not wish for them what he wishes for himself, knowing that he leads them as an imam while there is someone more correct than him. Please give us a ruling, and may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : The imam who does not wish for his brothers what he wishes for himself is deficient in faith, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 13 And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1844a So this imam who does not wish for his brothers what he wishes for himself is undoubtedly deficient in faith. As for him being an imam while there is someone better than him among the people, if he is a regular imam appointed by the one in authority, there is no harm if he performs the obligatory duties. However, if he is not a regular imam, he should not be placed in front of someone better than him, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 673a meaning: the oldest in age.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The imam who does not wish for his brothers what he wishes for himself is deficient in faith, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself.
لا يؤمن أحدكم حتى يحب لأخيه ما يحب لنفسهWhoever wishes to be delivered from the fire and enter the garden should die with faith in Allah and the Last Day and should treat the people as he wishes to be treated by them.
من أحب أن يزحزح عن النار ويدخل الجنة فلتأته منيته وهو يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر، وليأت إلى الناس ما يحب أن يؤتى إليهThe one who is most versed in Allah's Book should act as Imam for the people, but If they are equally versed in reciting it, then the one who has most knowledge regarding Sunnah if they are equal regarding the Sunnah, then the earliest one to emigrate; it they emigrated at the same time, then the earliest one to embrace Islam.
يؤم القوم أقرؤهم لكتاب الله، فإن كانوا في القراءة سواءً فأعلمهم بالسنة، فإن كانوا في السنة سواء فأقدمهم هجرة، فإن كانوا في الهجرة سواء فأقدمهم سِلما -يعني: إسلاماً- أو قال: سناًThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.