The ruling on leading prayer for one who does not master recitation
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The question: In his message, Faisal asks: Is it permissible for an imam to lead a congregation when he does not master the recitation of Surat al-Fatihah and some of the surahs of the prayer well, and there is among them someone who is better than him in recitation?
The answer: It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih Muslim 673a meaning in terms of Islam, and in another wording: , so the Sunnah in such a case is for the one who is the best reciter and the most excellent to lead those below him. If the one who is less excellent leads, the prayer is valid and sufficient if he establishes the recitation of al-Fatihah and establishes the prayer, so there is no harm, but he has contradicted the Sunnah. The better and more preferable thing is for them to put forward the one who is more excellent than him and the one who is a better reciter than him if they differ by a clear difference. So the Sunnah is to put forward the best reciter, then the one mentioned after him. This is the Sunnah, and the one who is less excellent is not put forward when the one who is more excellent is present. This is the best, except if the imam of the neighborhood is a regular imam, then there is no harm, or if it is the ruler, then there is no harm.
And the summary is: If he establishes the recitation of al-Fatihah and masters it, and does not make a mistake in it that changes the meaning, then his prayer is valid. If he establishes the prayer and does not rush through it, and does not do in it what invalidates it, then there is no harm. But the fact that he leads in prayer while someone more deserving is present, according to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, this is what Muslims should do: they should put forward the one the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) put forward, and they should put back the one he put back. This is what is required in these matters. Yes.
The answer: It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
The 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 سواء فأعلمهم بالسنة، فإن كانوا في السنة سواء فأقدمهم هجرة، فإن كانوا في الهجرة سواء فأقدمهم سلماًThen the one who is the oldest in age.
فأكبرهم سناًAnd the summary is: If he establishes the recitation of al-Fatihah and masters it, and does not make a mistake in it that changes the meaning, then his prayer is valid. If he establishes the prayer and does not rush through it, and does not do in it what invalidates it, then there is no harm. But the fact that he leads in prayer while someone more deserving is present, according to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, this is what Muslims should do: they should put forward the one the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) put forward, and they should put back the one he put back. This is what is required in these matters. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.
