344 – On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed Ibn Umm Maktum to lead the people in prayer, and he was blind.” Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawud (1).
A similar narration is recorded by Ibn Hibban from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) (2).

Status of the hadith:
The hadith is authentic. Abu Dawud transmitted it, and al-Bayhaqi likewise recorded it (3/88) with a sound chain whose narrators are all trustworthy. Ibn Hibban declared it authentic, while Ibn al-Mulaqqin and al-San‘ani graded it hasan.

Lessons derived from the hadith:

1. The leadership of a blind imam is valid, even over sighted worshippers; he is preferred so long as he is the most knowledgeable present regarding the Quran and Sunnah and the foremost in piety and righteousness.
2. Any worry that he might fail to avoid impurities is purely speculative and therefore pardoned; such concerns are outweighed by his competence and fitness for the office.
3. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) advanced Ibn Umm Maktum because of his early acceptance of Islam—he was among the first Emigrants and counted among the reciters and scholars—so he merited the imamate on account of these virtues.
4. Ability to perform a task and trustworthiness in carrying it out are judged in relation to that task; Ibn Umm Maktum’s disability did not diminish his capability or reliability in this particular function.
5. The apparent sense is that the Prophet’s assignment of authority to Ibn Umm Maktum was comprehensive, encompassing the prayer and other matters,