44 – Chapter: Showing reverence to scholars, elders, and people of merit; giving them priority over others; honoring their seats; and making their ranks evident.

Allah the Exalted says, “Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only people of understanding take heed.’” [Az-Zumar : 9].

⦗1/348⦘ – Abū Masʿūd ʿUqbah ibn ʿAmr al-Badri al-Anṣārī (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Let the one who is most versed in the Book of Allah lead the people in prayer. 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 earliest of them to emigrate; if they are equal in emigration, then the eldest of them in age. A man must not lead another in his own domain, nor sit in his house on his special seat except with his permission.” Narrated by Muslim.

In one of Muslim’s versions it reads, “then the earliest of them to submit (silman),” instead of “then the eldest,” meaning the one who first entered Islam.

Another version states, “Let the one who knows the Book of Allah best and has the earliest recitation lead them. If their recitation is alike, let the earliest of them to emigrate lead; if they are equal in emigration, then let the oldest of them lead.”

The phrase “in his domain” (sulṭānih) refers to the place over which he has authority or that is exclusively his. “His special seat” (tukramatuhu), with an open tāʾ and a kasrah on the rāʾ, is whatever he keeps for himself of bedding, couch, and the like.

⦗2/349⦘ – From the same Companion: he said, “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would pass his hand over our shoulders during the prayer and say:”