Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When there are three people one of them should lead them. The one among them most worthy to act as imam is the one who is most versed in the Qur’an.” Muslim transmitted it. The tradition of Malik b. al-Huwairith has been mentioned in a chapter following that on the excellence of the adhan (Ch. 7a).
Hadith Referenceمشكوة المصابيح / كتاب الصلاة / 1118
Hadith Gradingالألبانی:صَحِيحٌ | زبیر علی زئی:صحيح
Hadith Takhrij´تحقيق و تخريج: محدث العصر حافظ زبير على زئي رحمه الله` «رواه مسلم (289/ 672) ه حديث مالک بن الحويرث تقدم (683)»