Hadith #39

Arabic Text

English Translation

Abū Muʿāwiyah narrated to us saying: al-Aʿmash narrated to us, from Ismāʿīl ibn Rajāʾ, from Aws ibn Ḍamʿaj, from Abū Masʿūd al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه, who said: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: "The people should be led in prayer by the one who has the most knowledge of the Book of Allāh تعالى. If they are equal in recitation, then by the most knowledgeable of the Sunnah. If they are equal in the Sunnah, then by the one who emigrated earliest. If they are equal in emigration, then by the eldest. A man should not be led in prayer in his own domain [of authority], nor should one sit in his place of honor unless he gives permission."