The Condition of Puberty in Leading a Boy in Prayer
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
It was said in *Bada'i' al-Fawa'id*: "A boy does not lead [prayer] until he reaches puberty." Is this correct?
Answer:
The correct view is that a boy leads [prayer] when he understands the prayer, even if he is only seven years old, provided he understands the prayer and comprehends it. There is no harm in his leading the adults in obligatory and voluntary prayers if he understands the prayer and comprehends it. In *Sahih al-Bukhari*, from 'Amr ibn Salama al-Jarmi, it is narrated that he said: My father said, "I came to you from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with the truth." And he said: Al-Bukhari narrated it in his *Sahih*, as did Abu Dawud and others.
So if the boy is of sound mind, comprehending, and good at understanding the prayer, and he is the most knowledgeable of the present in recitation, he is placed in front, even if they are adults and he is not. However, if they are equal, the adult is more preferred. The more knowledgeable and excellent one is, the more preferred he is. But there is no harm in the young boy stepping forward and praying with the people, and there is no blame in that if he is qualified for prayer. And if he is the most knowledgeable of the present in recitation, he becomes more preferred; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): And Allah knows best, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad.
It was said in *Bada'i' al-Fawa'id*: "A boy does not lead [prayer] until he reaches puberty." Is this correct?
Answer:
The correct view is that a boy leads [prayer] when he understands the prayer, even if he is only seven years old, provided he understands the prayer and comprehends it. There is no harm in his leading the adults in obligatory and voluntary prayers if he understands the prayer and comprehends it. In *Sahih al-Bukhari*, from 'Amr ibn Salama al-Jarmi, it is narrated that he said: My father said, "I came to you from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with the truth." And he said:
When the prayer is established, let one of you call the adhan for you, and let the one among you who knows the most Qur'an lead you. He said: So they looked, and they did not find anyone who knew more Qur'an than me, so they placed me in front, and I was six or seven years old.
إذا حضرت الصلاة؛ فليؤذن لكم أحدكم، وليؤمكم أكثركم قرآنًا، قال: فنظروا؛ فلم يجدوا أكثر مني قرآنا، فقدموني وأنا ابن ست، أو سبع سنينSo if the boy is of sound mind, comprehending, and good at understanding the prayer, and he is the most knowledgeable of the present in recitation, he is placed in front, even if they are adults and he is not. However, if they are equal, the adult is more preferred. The more knowledgeable and excellent one is, the more preferred he is. But there is no harm in the young boy stepping forward and praying with the people, and there is no blame in that if he is qualified for prayer. And if he is the most knowledgeable of the present in recitation, he becomes more preferred; due to 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 الله
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.