The Permissibility Having a Child who has Reached the Age of Discrimination Lead the Salaah if He Recites Best:
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said:
“The one who is most versed in the Book of Allaah should act as Imam for the people, but if they are equally versed in reciting it, then the one who has the most knowledge regarding the Sunnah. If they are equal regarding the Sunnah, then the earliest one to emigrate (make Hijrah); it they emigrated at the same time, then the earliest one to embrace Islam.” And in one narration:
“Then the oldest of you.”
Reported by Muslim (1530).
`Amr ibn Salamah (radiyallaahu `anhu) said: “When Makkah was liberated, every tribe rushed to embrace Islam, and my father hurried to embrace Islam before (the other members of) my tribe. When my father returned (from the Prophet sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) to his tribe, he said:
“By Allaah! I have come to you from the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) for sure!” And he said to them:
“Offer such-and-such Salaah at such-and-such time, and when the time for the Salaah becomes due, then one of you should pronounce the Adhaan, and the one amongst you who knows the Qur’aan most should lead the Salaah.” So they looked for such a person and found none who knew the Qur’aan more than I because of what I used to learn from the riders (of caravans which passed by). So they put me forward (as their Imaam) and at that time I was six or seven years of age.”
Reported by Al-Bukhaaree (4302).
