A mosque imam who has not yet married: Is it permissible for him to lead the prayer, since marriage is the completion of faith?
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The questioner : A mosque imam who has not yet married: Is it permissible for him to lead the prayer, since marriage is the completion of faith? We ask you to provide us with information.
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible for a man to lead people in prayer while he is unmarried. He is more deserving of leading the prayer if he is the one among them who recites the Book of Allah best, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 980Sahih (Darussalam).
However, if there is a mosque with a regular imam, the regular imam is more deserving of leading the prayer than he is, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 673a. The imam of a mosque is the authority in his mosque. Do not be surprised if a young boy leads an older man in prayer, for it is established in Sahih al-Bukhari that 'Amr ibn Salama al-Jarmy led his people in prayer when he was six or seven years old. This Companion, who led his people in prayer at this age during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), led his people, who were a tribe, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not disapprove of it, nor did the Qur'an descend to disapprove of it.
For this reason, the stronger opinion among the scholars' views is that it is permissible for a young boy who has not reached puberty to lead an older man who has reached puberty in prayer. In fact, he is more deserving of leading the prayer if he recites better than the older man, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):.
And as for the sayingThe questioner : Before he completes his religion or before he completes his faith. It is said: There is no doubt that marriage, when accompanied by desire, is among the best acts of worship. Some scholars have even said that it is better than voluntary acts of worship, meaning it is better than charity, better than voluntary prayer, and better than reading the Qur'an that is not obligatory, because it involves obeying the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said:Mishkat al-Masabih 3080.
Therefore, a young man or woman is commanded to marry. If he or she marries, this is obedience to the command of Allah and His Messenger. Obedience to the command of Allah and His Messenger is an act of worship for which a person is rewarded. Some scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) held that marriage is obligatory for a young person who is able to afford it, because the default ruling for the commands of Allah and His Messenger is obligation, and because of the benefits that result from it and the prevention of harms.
And you will be surprised by people who are able to marry but do not, on the pretext that they want to complete their studies. This is a short-sighted view. Rather, we say: Marry, for marriage may increase your free time for studying. You may be blessed with a righteous, educated wife who helps you with what you want, and...
Similarly, regarding women, some of them say: I will not marry until I graduate from high school or from university, or something similar. This is a mistake. And although this may not come from the woman herself, it comes from some wicked guardians who want to use their daughters as a means to material gain. You will find that he keeps his daughter unmarried so that she can graduate, then get a job, and then he takes her salary. If he did this out of poverty and need, the matter would be easier to bear, but he does this to accumulate wealth, refuge in Allah. Even if he is poor, it is not permissible for him to treat his daughter as a commodity to be bought and sold. Rather, it is obligatory for him to look at what is best for her. So when a suitable match, good in character and religion, proposes to her, let him marry her off, even if she is studying. If the daughter wishes to continue her studies, let her stipulate to the husband that he will not prevent her from continuing her studies. If she stipulates this for herself, the husband is bound to fulfill it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 2139Sahih (Al-Albani).
And if she drops this condition after the marriage, no one has the right to object to that, neither her father nor her brother nor any of her guardians, because the right belongs to her. Many people in such matters betray their trust and violate their trust for the sake of material interests or personal goals. This is a betrayal of trust, and Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Anfal 8:27-28].
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good for this blessed guidance.
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible for a man to lead people in prayer while he is unmarried. He is more deserving of leading the prayer if he is the one among them who recites the Book of Allah best, based on the saying of the Prophet (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
يؤم القوم أقرؤهم لكتاب اللهHowever, if there is a mosque with a regular imam, the regular imam is more deserving of leading the prayer than he is, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
No man must lead another in prayer where (the latter) has authority
لا يؤمن الرجل الرجل في سلطانهFor this reason, the stronger opinion among the scholars' views is that it is permissible for a young boy who has not reached puberty to lead an older man who has reached puberty in prayer. In fact, he is more deserving of leading the prayer if he recites better than the older man, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The one who leads the people is the one who is most proficient in reciting the Book of Allah.
يؤم القوم أقرأهم لكتاب اللهAnd as for the sayingThe questioner : Before he completes his religion or before he completes his faith. It is said: There is no doubt that marriage, when accompanied by desire, is among the best acts of worship. Some scholars have even said that it is better than voluntary acts of worship, meaning it is better than charity, better than voluntary prayer, and better than reading the Qur'an that is not obligatory, because it involves obeying the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said:
Young man, those of you who can support a wife should marry, for it keeps you from looking at strange women and preserves you from immorality; but those who cannot should devote themselves to fasting, for it is a means of suppressing sexual desire.
يا معشر الشباب! من استطاع منكم الباءة فليتزوج فإنه أغض للبصر وأحصن للفرج، ومن لم يستطع فعليه بالصوم فإنه له وجاءTherefore, a young man or woman is commanded to marry. If he or she marries, this is obedience to the command of Allah and His Messenger. Obedience to the command of Allah and His Messenger is an act of worship for which a person is rewarded. Some scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) held that marriage is obligatory for a young person who is able to afford it, because the default ruling for the commands of Allah and His Messenger is obligation, and because of the benefits that result from it and the prevention of harms.
And you will be surprised by people who are able to marry but do not, on the pretext that they want to complete their studies. This is a short-sighted view. Rather, we say: Marry, for marriage may increase your free time for studying. You may be blessed with a righteous, educated wife who helps you with what you want, and...
Similarly, regarding women, some of them say: I will not marry until I graduate from high school or from university, or something similar. This is a mistake. And although this may not come from the woman herself, it comes from some wicked guardians who want to use their daughters as a means to material gain. You will find that he keeps his daughter unmarried so that she can graduate, then get a job, and then he takes her salary. If he did this out of poverty and need, the matter would be easier to bear, but he does this to accumulate wealth, refuge in Allah. Even if he is poor, it is not permissible for him to treat his daughter as a commodity to be bought and sold. Rather, it is obligatory for him to look at what is best for her. So when a suitable match, good in character and religion, proposes to her, let him marry her off, even if she is studying. If the daughter wishes to continue her studies, let her stipulate to the husband that he will not prevent her from continuing her studies. If she stipulates this for herself, the husband is bound to fulfill it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The condition worthier to be fulfilled by you is the one by which you made the private parts (of your wife) lawful (for you).
إن أحق الشروط أن توفوا به ما استحللتم به الفروجAnd if she drops this condition after the marriage, no one has the right to object to that, neither her father nor her brother nor any of her guardians, because the right belongs to her. Many people in such matters betray their trust and violate their trust for the sake of material interests or personal goals. This is a betrayal of trust, and Allah the Exalted said:
(27) O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence]. (28) And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allah has with Him a great reward.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لا تَخُونُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا أَمَانَاتِكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ * وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good for this blessed guidance.