5/53. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 672a — Who Should Lead the Prayer
Who is more entitled to lead the prayer
Hadith About Who Should Lead Prayer in Islam
Sahih Muslim : 672a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 672a
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا كَانُوا ثَلاَثَةً فَلْيَؤُمَّهُمْ أَحَدُهُمْ وَأَحَقُّهُمْ بِالإِمَامَةِ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ " .
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri Narrated from:
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: When there are three persons, one of them should lead them. The one among them most worthy to act as Imam is one who is best versed in the Qur'an.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 672aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 362USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1417
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 672a
This hadith about who should lead prayer in Islam gives a simple rule for a small group. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that when there are three persons, one of them should lead them. He then said that the one most worthy of acting as Imam is the one who is best versed in the Qur'an. The text is focused on prayer leadership and Qur'an knowledge. It does not mention wealth, social rank, or personal fame as the reason to lead. For readers searching who should be imam in salah hadith, this narration gives the direct answer from the wording: among the group, the person strongest in Qur'an recitation and knowledge is most worthy to lead.
What we learn from this hadith
- When three people are together for prayer, one should lead them.
- The person best versed in the Qur'an is most worthy to act as Imam.
- Prayer leadership is tied here to Qur'an knowledge, not status or wealth.
