A boy leading the prayer before puberty

Hammam reports from his father that Sayyiduna al-Ash'ath (may Allah be pleased with him) once put a boy forward to lead the prayer. He was criticised for it, and he said: "I have put the Qur'an forward."

Hisham reports from his father that when Sayyiduna al-Ash'ath (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived, he put a boy forward to lead the prayer, and the people criticised him for it. At that, Sayyiduna al-Ash'ath said: "I did not put him forward; rather, I put the Qur'an forward."

Ibrahim said: There is no harm in a boy leading the prayer in the month of Ramadan before he reaches puberty.

Al-Hasan said: There is no harm in a boy leading the prayer before he reaches puberty.

Ata and Umar bin Abd al-Aziz said: A boy may not lead the prayer before he reaches puberty, neither in the obligatory prayer nor in the voluntary.

Al-Sha'bi said: A boy may not lead the prayer until he reaches puberty.

Mujahid said: A boy may not lead the prayer until he reaches puberty.