Hadith Research Libraryمكتبة الحديث والرجال

Chapter 3.0

Who has more right to Imamah

باب مَنْ أَحَقُّ بِالإِمَامَةِ

1 hadiths

Sunan an-Nasa'i, 780sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

6 transmitters

Narrated by Qutayba bin Sa'id bin JamilfromFadayl bin 'Iyyad bin Mas'udfromSulaiman al-A'mashfromIsma'il bin Raja'a bin Rabi'a al-ZubaidifromAws bin Dm'jfromAbu Mas'ud al-Badri

Hadith text · Matn

‏ يَؤُمُّ الْقَوْمَ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ لِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَقْدَمُهُمْ فِي الْهِجْرَةِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْهِجْرَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَعْلَمُهُمْ بِالسُّنَّةِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي السُّنَّةِ سَوَاءً فَأَقْدَمُهُمْ سِنًّا وَلاَ تَؤُمَّ الرَّجُلَ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ وَلاَ تَقْعُدْ عَلَى تَكْرِمَتِهِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَأْذَنَ لَكَ ‏

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English translation

It was narrated that Abu Masud said:

"The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ)said: 'Let the one who has most knowledge of the Book of Allah lead the people in prayer. If they are equal in terms of knowledge of the Qur'h, let the one who emigrated first (lead them). If they are equal in terms of emigration, let the one who has more knowledge of the Sunnah, (lead them). If they are equal in terms of knowledge of the Sunnah, let the one who is oldest (lead them). Do not lead a man in prayer in his place of authority, and do not sit in his place of honor, unless he gives you permission."'

Original Arabic chain wording

أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا فُضَيْلُ بْنُ عِيَاضٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ رَجَاءٍ، عَنْ أَوْسِ بْنِ ضَمْعَجٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏