44 – Chapter: Showing Reverence to Scholars, Elders, and People of Merit, preferring them to others, giving them elevated places, and manifesting their rank
Allah the Exalted says: “Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only those possessed of insight take heed.’” [al-Zumar 39:9]
352 – Abū Masʿūd ʿUqbah ibn ʿAmr al-Badri al-Anṣārī (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The one who should lead the people in prayer is the most proficient among them in reciting the Book of Allah. If they are equal in recitation, then the one who is most knowledgeable of the sunnah; if they are equal in knowledge of the sunnah, then the one who emigrated earliest; if they are equal in emigration, then the eldest of them. 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.” Reported by Muslim.
In another version recorded by him: “then the one who embraced Islam earliest,” in place of “the eldest.”
And in yet another wording: “The people should be led by the one most versed in the Book of Allah and earliest in recitation; if their recitation is equal, then the one who emigrated earliest; if they are equal in emigration, let the eldest of them lead.”
The phrase “in his domain of authority” (sulṭān) refers to the place over which he has jurisdiction or that is especially his, while “his special seat” (takrima, with an open tā and a kasrah on the rā) denotes whatever he alone customarily uses, such as his bedding or couch.
353 – The same Companion reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would pass his hand over our shoulders when we were standing for prayer and say, “Stand straight and do not differ, lest your hearts differ. Let those of you who are mature and possess understanding stand nearest to me, then those directly after them, then those directly after them.” Reported by Muslim.
His ﷺ words “liyali” are read with a lightened nūn, without a preceding yā; another narration has it with a doubled nūn preceded by a yā. The term “al-nuha” means intellects, and “ulu l-ahlam” are the adults; it is also said that it means those endowed with forbearance and virtue.
354 – ʿAbd Allah ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated, “Let those who stand nearest to me…”