Riyad as-Salihin 348
The Book of Miscellany
Revering the Scholars and Elders, Preferring them to others and raising their Status
Abu Mas'ud 'Uqbah bin 'Amr Al-Badri Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The person who is best versed in the recitation of the Book of Allah, should lead the prayer; but if all those present are equally versed in it, then the one who has most knowledge of the Sunnah; if they are equal in that respect too, then the one who has emigrated (to Al-Madinah) first, if they are equal in this respect also, then the oldest of them. No man should lead another in prayer where the latter has authority, or sit in his house, without his permission". [Muslim]. In another narration in Muslim: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "One who is senior most in accepting Islam, should lead the Salat (prayer)". Yet another narration is: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A man who is well versed in the Book of Allah and can recite it better, should lead the Salat (prayer); if (all those present) are equal in this respect, then the man who is senior most in respect of emigration, if they are equal in that respect too, then the oldest of them should lead the prayer". [Muslim].