His third question asks whether it is permissible to pray behind someone who does not know how to recite Surat al-Fatihah in its entirety, let alone master the obligatory and recommended acts of wudu.
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The questioner : His third question asks whether it is permissible to pray behind someone who does not know how to recite Surat al-Fatihah in its entirety, let alone master the obligatory and recommended acts of wudu, as well as the pillars of prayer and all that pertains to it, such as its obligations and invalidators. Is it permissible to pray behind such a person or not?
The Shaykh : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 980Sahih (Darussalam) This man whom the questioner referred to, who does not know how to recite al-Fatihah, is not permissible for him to be an imam for those who know how to recite it. Rather, it is obligatory for the one most deserving of the imamate to take it on, because the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): is a statement that carries the meaning of a command. Then he said to 'Amr ibn al-Salamah: His saying: is the letter of command, so it is obligatory for the congregation, if there is no regular imam, to appoint the one most deserving of the imamate. Imam Ahmad mentioned in his treatise "The Treatise on Prayer" that if a man leads a group and there is among them someone better than him, they remain in a state of lowliness because they have placed themselves in a position where they appointed a person while there was someone better than him among them.
The important point is that it is not permissible for a person to pray behind someone who does not know how to recite al-Fatihah, does not know how to perform wudu, and does not know how to fulfill the obligations of his prayer.
The questioner : Even if this imam, for example, is the regular imam and there is a passerby behind him who is better in recitation and more proficient?
The Shaykh : If he is the regular imam.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He remains in his position as imam as long as his imamate is valid, even if there is someone in the congregation better than him, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 673a And the imam of the mosque is the authority of that mosque.
The questioner : This is a message from the questioner Layla M from Kuwait.
The Shaykh : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The people should be lead by the one who is most well-Versed in recitation of the Book of Allah
يؤم القوم أقرؤهم لكتاب اللهThe people are led in prayer
يؤم القومLet the one among you with the most Quran lead you
وليؤمكم أكثركم قرأناًLet the one among you
وليؤمكمThe important point is that it is not permissible for a person to pray behind someone who does not know how to recite al-Fatihah, does not know how to perform wudu, and does not know how to fulfill the obligations of his prayer.
The questioner : Even if this imam, for example, is the regular imam and there is a passerby behind him who is better in recitation and more proficient?
The Shaykh : If he is the regular imam.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He remains in his position as imam as long as his imamate is valid, even if there is someone in the congregation better than him, 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 يؤمّنّ الرجل الرجل في سلطانهThe questioner : This is a message from the questioner Layla M from Kuwait.