Fatwa ID: 05504

Answered by: Alimah Sofia Mirza

Question:

For the salat with jamaat, if there is a Hafiz Quran who is an adult (15 years old and lead Taraweeh before and still good Hafiz) and there is an elder brother who is not a Hafez and not a mufti but is married with children. Between the two who has the right to lead the salat with jamaat?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

The person most qualified to be an Imam is the person who is the most learned person in terms of recitation of the Quran and the rules of prayer and Shariah followed by the one who recites with the best Tajweed, followed by the one who is most pious and stays away from evil deeds, followed by the one who is the eldest, followed by the one who has the best character[1]. Considering this order, the Hafiz who has the most knowledge of the Quran will be most eligible to lead the prayer regardless of age as When a person appoints another to a position of public service, he must consider the one who can benefit the people most in terms of fulfilling the commands of Allah.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Sofia Mirza

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Fatawa Hindiyyah, Darul Kutub al Ilmiyyah, Vol 1, Pg.92

الأولى بالإمامة أعلمهم بأحكام الصلاة ويجتنب الفواحش الظاهرة و إن تساووا فأقرؤهم اي اعلمهم بعلم القراءة