Ruling on a slave leading prayer

Hazrat Abdullah bin Samit narrates that Hazrat Abu Dharr arrived at Rabzah, where the governor was an Abyssinian slave. When the time for prayer came, Hazrat Abu Dharr instructed him to lead the prayer.

Hazrat Ibn Sirin narrates that Hazrat Abu Dharr appointed a slave to lead the prayer.

Hazrat Abu Dharr prayed behind an Abyssinian slave.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) used to offer prayers under the leadership of her intelligent slave.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) offered prayer behind her slave as the imam.

Hazrat Abu Saeed, the freed slave of Abi Usaid, says that I was a slave. When I got married, I invited some of the noble companions, among whom were Hazrat Abu Dharr, Hazrat Ibn Mas’ud, and Hazrat Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with them). When the time for prayer came, Hazrat Abu Dharr stepped forward, but Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him, “Please step back.” He asked, “Really?” Hazrat Abdullah replied, “Yes.” Then he brought me forward, and despite being a slave, I led them in prayer.

Hazrat Dawood bin Husain says that Hazrat Abu Sufyan was a mukatab (contracted) slave and used to lead the prayers for Banu Abd al-Ashhal. Among them were some companions, such as Muhammad bin Maslamah and Salamah bin Salamah. Once, the people wanted to remove him from the position of imam, so these two gentlemen listened to his recitation and said, "Can someone like him be removed from the position of imam?"

Hasan and Hazrat Ibn Sirin state that there is no harm in the leadership (imamat) of a slave.

Hasan and Ibrahim say that there is no harm in the leadership (imamat) of a slave.

Hazrat Sufyan and Hazrat Aamir state that there is no harm in the leadership (Imamat) of a slave.

Hazrat Laith and Hazrat Shahr state that there is no harm in the leadership (imamat) of a slave, provided that he is the most knowledgeable among them.

Ziyad, the freed slave of Umm al-Hasan, says that I was a slave, but Salim bin Abdullah prayed behind me.

Hazrat Abu Majliz considered the leadership of prayer by a slave to be disliked, while Hasan saw no harm in it.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Ubaidullah bin Abi Mulaykah narrates that my father, Hazrat Ubaid bin Umair, Hazrat Miswar bin Makhramah, and many other people used to visit Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). Hazrat Aisha’s (may Allah be pleased with her) freed slave, Abu Amr, used to lead them in prayer. At that time, Abu Amr was still a slave and had not yet been freed.

Hazrat Hakam states that a slave led prayers in this mosque for forty years, and Hazrat Shurayh also used to pray in this mosque.

Hazrat Amr bin Maisarah says that Hazrat Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) performed prayer with his family behind his servant in a room of his house.

Hazrat Dhahhak says that if there is a free man among the worshippers, then a slave should not lead the prayer, and if there is a pilgrim among them, then a non-pilgrim should not lead the prayer.

Hazrat Abu Sufyan narrates that I went towards the place of Yanbu with Hazrat Abdullah bin Ja'far, Hazrat Hussain bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and Hazrat Ibn Abi Ahmad. When the time for prayer arrived, they put me forward and I led them in prayer.