FatwaFederal TerritoriesPrayer (Salah)
AL-KAFI #888: SIAPA YANG LEBIH LAYAK MENJADI IMAM?
Who is most qualified to lead the prayer as imam?
Short answer
Where no imam has been appointed for a mosque or surau, someone may be chosen according to the order of qualifications set out by Shafi'i scholars, based on the hadith of Abu Mas'ud reported by Muslim.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Prayer (Salah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Where no imam has been appointed for a mosque or surau, someone may be chosen according to the order of qualifications set out by Shafi'i scholars, based on the hadith of Abu Mas'ud reported by Muslim. The order begins with the most learned in Islamic law, then the best Quran reciter, the most pious, the earliest to migrate, the earliest to embrace Islam, those of noble lineage, followed by good character, cleanliness, a pleasant voice and appearance. The fatwa prefers the person with the deepest jurisprudential knowledge to be given precedence, as he knows the whole of the prayer better.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Kami tarjihkan mereka yang faqih berdasarkan mazhab al-Syafie hendaklah didahulukan kerana lebih mengetahui tentang keseluruhan solat daripada yang mmepunyai suara yang baik sahaja.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #888: SIAPA YANG LEBIH LAYAK MENJADI IMAM?”, 12 November 2018. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/2749-al-kafi-888-siapa-yang-lebih-layak-menjadi-imam. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/who-is-most-qualified-to-lead-prayer/