332 – Abu Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ declared, “The one most proficient in reciting the Book of Allah shall lead the people in prayer. If they are equal in recitation, then the one best versed in the Sunnah. If they are equal in the Sunnah, then the one who emigrated earlier. If they are equal in emigration, then the one who entered Islam first—and in one wording: the eldest of them in age. A man must not lead another in prayer in the latter’s domain of authority, nor sit in his house on his special seat except with his permission.” Related by Muslim (1).

Glossary of terms
• “The one most proficient shall lead”: an indicative form that carries the force of a command, as in Allah’s statement, “The adulteress—let none marry her except an adulterer” (Q 24:3).
• “Hijrah”: migration from lands of unbelief to lands of Islam; its ruling is still in force.
• “Silman”: with a short i and a silent l, meaning Islam.
• “His sultan”: his sphere of authority, whether general or private.
• “Takrimah”: the bedding, mat, or similar furnishing set aside for the master of the house.

Lessons drawn from the ḥadith
1 – It is recommended that the imamate be given to the most qualified, with qualification defined as mastery of the sacred sciences