Abu Masud al-Badri reported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: The one of you who is most versed in the Books of Allah should act as imam for the people; and the one who is the earliest of them in reciting (the Quran); if they are equally versed in reciting it, then the earliest of them to emigrate (to Madina); if they emigrated at the same time, then the oldest of them. No man must lead another in prayer in his house (i. e. in the house of a latter) or where the latter has authority, or sit in his place of honor without his permission. Shubah said: I asked Ismail: what is the meaning of his place of honor? He replied: his throne.

This tradition has been transmitted through a different chain by Abu Masud This version has words ; “If they are equally versed in recitation, then the one who has most knowledge of the Sunnah ; if they are equal with regard to (the knowledge of) the Sunnah, then the earliest of them to emigrate (to Madina)”. He did not narrate the words; “ The earliest of them in recitation”. Abu Dawud said: Hajjaj bin Artata reported from Ismail: Do not sit in the place of honour of anyone except with his permission.