وقال أبي رحمه اللهفي رسالته إلي: اعلم يا بني أن أولى الناس بالتقدم في جماعة أقرؤهم للقرآن، وإن كانوا في القراءة سواء فأفقههم، وإن كانوا في الفقه سواء فأقدمهم هجرة فإن كانوا في الهجرة سواء فأسنهم، فإن كانوا في السن سواء فأصبحهم وجها وصاحب المسجد أولى بمسجده، وليكن من يلي الامام منكم أولوا الأحلام والتقى فإن نسي الامام أو تعايا فقوموه، وأفضل الصفوف أولها وأفضل أولها من دنى إلى الامام.
My father (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى have mercy on him) said in his letter to me: "Know, my son, that the one most deserving to lead the congregation is the one most proficient in reciting the Qur'an. If they are equal in recitation, then the one who has the most understanding of jurisprudence (Fiqh). If they are equal in Fiqh, then the one who has migrated (performed Hijrah) the earliest. If they are equal in migration, then the oldest in age. If they are equal in age, then the one with the most pleasing appearance. The owner of the mosque has more right to lead in his mosque. Let those who stand closest to the Imam be people of sound judgment and piety so that if the Imam forgets or becomes confused, they can correct him. The best rows are the front rows, and the best part of the front row is that which is closest to the Imam."
