Who Is an Undesirable Leader in Salah (prayer)? Can a Slave Lead Salah (prayer)? Who Is Most Rightful to Lead Salah (prayer)

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Five kinds of people are not to lead other people in Salah (prayer) in all circumstances: People suffering from leprosy, insanity, one born out of wedlock and al-A‘ra’biy Arab of the desert.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin said, ‘One bonded cannot lead in Salah (prayer) those who are free, one paralyzed cannot lead those in good health, one with Tayammum cannot lead those with Wudu’, a blind cannot lead others in the wilderness unless directed to al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah).’”

I was your Imam’ and the other says, ‘I was your Imam’ he (the Imam) said, ‘Both persons’ Salah (prayer) is complete.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘What happens if each one says, ‘I followed you.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Both persons’ Salah (prayer) is invalid. They must perform it again.’”

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about performing Salah (prayer) behind a slave. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not an offense if he has good understanding of fiqh (Islamic laws) and there is no one excelling him in fiqh (Islamic laws). He (the narrator) has said that he then asked, ‘Can I perform Salah (prayer) behind a blind man?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, if there is someone who shows him the direction and he is more excellent than others present.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, “No one of you must perform Salah (prayer) behind one suffering from leprosy, an insane man, one punished by law, one born of wedlock, behind a desert dwelling Arab and the immigrant (drifting) must not lead Salah (prayer)””’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a people of our companions who come together then Salah (prayer) time comes. Certain ones among them say to the others, ‘O so and so lead.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said that the most learned in al-Quran is to lead. If all of them are equally learned in al-Quran, the first to migrate among them, if all are equal in migration, then the oldest among them, if all are equal in age, then the most learned among them in the Sunnah and most learned in religion is to lead. No one of you must lead one in his house or the one with authority in his dominion.’”

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not an offense if a young boy, who has not become an adult, leads a people and says Adhan.”’ (Ahadith 1-6 and the following chapters are best explained in the form of fatwa.)