If a man invites a ruler to his home and the time for prayer arrives while the ruler is in his home, does the homeowner pray or the ruler?

The questioner : If a man invites a ruler to his home and the time for prayer arrives while the ruler is in his home, does the homeowner pray or the ruler?

The Shaykh : But look at the hadith of 'Utbah; is it not what you are saying?

The questioner : I know that if a ruler is invited by a man to his home and the time for prayer arrives, does the homeowner pray or the ruler...?

The Shaykh : Well, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So the homeowner has the stronger right. But the jurists said that the ruler has the stronger right because his authority is general, encompassing authority over the home and authority over the general public. For this reason, the author of *Zad al-Mustaqni'* said: "The homeowner and the imam of the mosque have the stronger right, except for one who holds authority." They explained this by saying that he has authority over the homeowner and authority over the mosque. However, the apparent meaning of the Sunnah is contrary to this, as the Messenger of Allah made the homeowner more deserving.