2/66. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 587 — Most Qur'an Knowledge Leads
Who Has More Right To Be Imam
The One Who Knows Most Qur'an Should Lead Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 587
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 587
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ مِسْعَرِ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ الْجَرْمِيِّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ سَلِمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُمْ وَفَدُوا إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا أَرَادُوا أَنْ يَنْصَرِفُوا قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ يَؤُمُّنَا قَالَ " أَكْثَرُكُمْ جَمْعًا لِلْقُرْآنِ " . أَوْ " أَخْذًا لِلْقُرْآنِ " . قَالَ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ جَمَعَ مَا جَمَعْتُهُ - قَالَ - فَقَدَّمُونِي وَأَنَا غُلاَمٌ وَعَلَىَّ شَمْلَةٌ لِي فَمَا شَهِدْتُ مَجْمَعًا مِنْ جَرْمٍ إِلاَّ كُنْتُ إِمَامَهُمْ وَكُنْتُ أُصَلِّي عَلَى جَنَائِزِهِمْ إِلَى يَوْمِي هَذَا . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَرَوَاهُ يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ عَنْ مِسْعَرِ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ الْجَرْمِيِّ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَلِمَةَ قَالَ لَمَّا وَفَدَ قَوْمِي إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمْ يَقُلْ عَنْ أَبِيهِ .
Salamah Narrated from:
‘Amr b. Salamah reported on the authority of his father (Salamah) that they visited the Prophet (ﷺ). When they intended to return, they said: Messenger of Allah, who will lead us in prayer? He said: The one of you who knows most of the Qur’an, or memorizes most of the Qur’an, (should act as your imam). There was none in the clan who knew more of the Qur’an than I did. They, therefore, put me in front of them and I was only a boy. And I wore a mantle, Whenever I was present in the gathering of Jarm (name of his clan), I would act as their Imam, and lead them in their funeral prayer until today.Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated by ‘Amr b. Salamah through a different chain of transmitter. This version has: “When my clan visited the Prophet( may peace be upon him) ....” He did not report it on the authority of his father.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 587In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 197English translation : Book 2, Hadith 587
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 587
This Hadith reports that when the people visited the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and were returning, they asked who should lead them in prayer. The answer was that the one who knew or had memorized the most Qur'an should act as imam. Amr b. Salamah said no one in the clan had gathered what he had gathered of the Qur'an, so they placed him forward while he was still a boy. He continued to act as imam for gatherings of his clan and even led funeral prayers. This Hadith about Qur'an knowledge and imam leadership is clear: the ability to recite and remember the Qur'an was given strong value in choosing who leads salah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The one with more Qur'an knowledge was preferred for leading prayer.
- A young person may be placed forward when he has the needed Qur'an knowledge.
- The people asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) for guidance before choosing an imam.
- Amr’s role as imam continued in his community.
