Hadith 362

Sahih Muslim

Book 5: The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer

Chapter 53

Who is more entitled to lead the prayer

باب مَنْ أَحَقُّ بِالإِمَامَةِ

Sahih Muslim 672a
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏ ‏.‏
"‏ إِذَا كَانُوا ثَلاَثَةً فَلْيَؤُمَّهُمْ أَحَدُهُمْ وَأَحَقُّهُمْ بِالإِمَامَةِ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ ‏"
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

When there are three persons, one of them should lead them. The one among them most worthy to act as Imam is one who is best versed in the Qur'an.