◈ Ruling on the Imamate of a Minor Boy with Proof from Authentic Ahadith ◈
Source: Fatawa Muhammadiyyah, Vol. 1, Page 413
Can a minor boy (نابالغ لڑکا) lead the congregational prayer (Imamat)?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
Yes, in the absence of an adult male who is qualified to lead the prayer, it is permissible for a discerning minor boy (صاحبِ تمیز نابالغ) to lead the congregation.
This ruling is based on the well-established incident of ʿAmr ibn Salamah رضي الله عنه, which is recorded in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Abu Dawood, al-Nasā’ī, and Musnad of Imam Aḥmad.
ʿAmr ibn Salamah رضي الله عنه narrates:
“Our tribe lived along a route where many Companions of the Prophet ﷺ would pass by. I used to learn the Qur’an from them. When my father accepted Islam, he said: ‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has declared that five daily prayers are obligatory. The one who knows the most Qur’an should lead the prayer.’”
Since I was the most well-versed in the Qur’an in our tribe, they appointed me as the Imam. From that day till now, I have been their Imam. At that time, I was about seven years old. I had only one garment, and when I went into sujood, part of my body would become exposed. So my people made clothing for me.”
Bukhari and al-Nasa’i:
فَنَظَرُوا فَلَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ أَكْثَرَ قُرْآنًا مِنِّي، لِمَا كُنْتُ أَتَلَقَّى مِنَ الرُّكْبَانِ، فَقَدَّمُونِي بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ سِتٍّ أَوْ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ
"They looked and found no one more knowledgeable of the Qur'an than I was, so they put me ahead of them (as Imam), and I was six or seven years old."
[Narrated in al-Bukhari and al-Nasa’i]
Abu Dawood:
كنت أؤمهم وأنا ابن سبع سنين أو ثمان سنين
"I used to lead them in prayer while I was seven or eight years old."
[Abu Dawood]
Musnad Aḥmad and Abu Dawood:
فما شهدت مجمعًا من جَرْمٍ إلا كنت إمامهم إلى يومي هذا
"I never attended a gathering of my tribe (Jurhm) except that I was their Imam till this day."
[Nayl al-Awtar: Vol. 3, p. 187]
This authentic Hadith clearly establishes that:
✔ If a minor boy is discerning (صاحبِ تمیز)
✔ And is more knowledgeable in the Qur’an and rulings of prayer than the adults present
Then his leading the prayer (Imamat) is valid and permissible.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatawa Muhammadiyyah, Vol. 1, Page 413❖ Question:
Can a minor boy (نابالغ لڑکا) lead the congregational prayer (Imamat)?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
Yes, in the absence of an adult male who is qualified to lead the prayer, it is permissible for a discerning minor boy (صاحبِ تمیز نابالغ) to lead the congregation.
❖ Proof from Authentic Ahadith
This ruling is based on the well-established incident of ʿAmr ibn Salamah رضي الله عنه, which is recorded in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Abu Dawood, al-Nasā’ī, and Musnad of Imam Aḥmad.
❖ The Incident of ʿAmr ibn Salamah رضي الله عنه
ʿAmr ibn Salamah رضي الله عنه narrates:
“Our tribe lived along a route where many Companions of the Prophet ﷺ would pass by. I used to learn the Qur’an from them. When my father accepted Islam, he said: ‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has declared that five daily prayers are obligatory. The one who knows the most Qur’an should lead the prayer.’”
Since I was the most well-versed in the Qur’an in our tribe, they appointed me as the Imam. From that day till now, I have been their Imam. At that time, I was about seven years old. I had only one garment, and when I went into sujood, part of my body would become exposed. So my people made clothing for me.”
❖ Wordings from the Narrations:
Bukhari and al-Nasa’i:
فَنَظَرُوا فَلَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ أَكْثَرَ قُرْآنًا مِنِّي، لِمَا كُنْتُ أَتَلَقَّى مِنَ الرُّكْبَانِ، فَقَدَّمُونِي بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ سِتٍّ أَوْ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ
"They looked and found no one more knowledgeable of the Qur'an than I was, so they put me ahead of them (as Imam), and I was six or seven years old."
[Narrated in al-Bukhari and al-Nasa’i]
Abu Dawood:
كنت أؤمهم وأنا ابن سبع سنين أو ثمان سنين
"I used to lead them in prayer while I was seven or eight years old."
[Abu Dawood]
Musnad Aḥmad and Abu Dawood:
فما شهدت مجمعًا من جَرْمٍ إلا كنت إمامهم إلى يومي هذا
"I never attended a gathering of my tribe (Jurhm) except that I was their Imam till this day."
[Nayl al-Awtar: Vol. 3, p. 187]
❖ Conclusion
This authentic Hadith clearly establishes that:
✔ If a minor boy is discerning (صاحبِ تمیز)
✔ And is more knowledgeable in the Qur’an and rulings of prayer than the adults present
Then his leading the prayer (Imamat) is valid and permissible.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
