Al-Kāfi - The Book of Prayer

Chapter: Who Is an Undesirable Leader in Salah (prayer)? Can a Slave Lead Salah (prayer)? Who Is Most Rightful to Lead Salah (prayer) َّدٍ وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ ٠َحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلا٠ِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا يَجْتَ٠ِعُونَ فَتَحْضُرُ الصَّلاَةُ فَيَقُولُ بَعْضُهُ٠ْ لِبَعْضٍ تَقَدَّ٠ْ يَا فُلاَنُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ يَتَقَدَّ٠ْ لِلْقُرْآنِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَقْدَ٠ْ هِجْرَةً فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْهِجْرَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَكْبَرُهُ٠ْ سِنّاً فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي السِّنِّ سَوَاءً فَلْيَؤُ٠ْ بِالسُّنَّةِ وَأَفْقَهُهُ٠ْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلاَ يَتَقَدَّ٠َنْزِلِهِ وَلاَ صَاحِبَ السُّلْطَانِ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ.

If all of them are equally learned in al-Quran, the first to migrate among them, if all are equal in migration, then the oldest among them, if all are equal in age, then the most learned among them in the Sunnah and most learned in religion is to lead. No one of you must lead one in his house or the one with authority in his dominion.’” شهور - Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (5/261))