حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ عَنْ أَبِي قِلَابَةَ عَنْ مَالِکِ بْنِ الْحُوَيْرِثِ قَالَ أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَنَحْنُ شَبَبَةٌ مُتَقَارِبُونَ فَأَقَمْنَا عِنْدَهُ عِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً وَکَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَحِيمًا رَقِيقًا فَظَنَّ أَنَّا قَدْ اشْتَقْنَا أَهْلَنَا فَسَأَلَنَا عَنْ مَنْ تَرَکْنَا مِنْ أَهْلِنَا فَأَخْبَرْنَاهُ فَقَالَ ارْجِعُوا إِلَی أَهْلِيکُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا فِيهِمْ وَعَلِّمُوهُمْ وَمُرُوهُمْ فَإِذَا حَضَرَتْ الصَّلَاةُ فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ لَکُمْ أَحَدُکُمْ ثُمَّ لِيَؤُمَّکُمْ أَکْبَرُکُمْ
صحیح مسلم · Hadith 1535
Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari reported: The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said to us: The one who is well grounded in Allah's Book and is distinguished among them in recitation should act as; Imam for the people. and if they are equally versed in reciting it, then the one who has most knowledge regarding Sunnah; if they are equal regarding the Sunnah, then the earliest one to emigrate; If they emigrated at the same time, then the oldest one in age. No man must lead another in prayer in latter's house or where (the latter) has authority, or sit in his place of honour in his house, except that he gives you permission or with his permission.
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020