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Last Updated: 2012/03/14
Website code number fa20807 Archive code number 18880
group Laws and Jurisprudence
Tag prayer|Non-Baligh|Leader of Prayer
Summary of question
Can a non-baligh person lead the prayer?
question
When there are 3 or more people that are non-baligh, and they want to pray jama\'ah, can the eldest of them lead the prayers, although he is underage?
Concise answer

The following are the responses of the grand maraji':[1]

His eminence, Ayatullah Khamene'i (may Allah prolong his life):

In the case of the question, it is not permissible.

His eminence, Ayatullah Sistani (may Allah prolong his life):

It is not valid as per obligatory precaution, even if the leader is 10 years of age.

His eminence, Ayatullah Saafi Golpaygani (may Allah prolong his life):

The leader of prayers must be baligh.

Ayatullah Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani (may Allah extend his blessings):

In this case, one who has better recitation or at least, correct recitation and is more religious is more suitable to lead the prayer; in any case, jamaa'ah prayer is something good.

 

[1] Inquiries from the offices of the grand maraji' (may Allah prolong their lives) by IslamQuest.