3. Is It Permissible For A Young Son To lead In Fardh Or Taraweeh?

By Asma bint Shameem

Yes. It is permissible for a young boy to lead adults in obligatory or Taraaweeh prayers.

It doesn’t matter if the young boy is under the age of puberty.
As long as he knows the basic rulings about tahaarah, Salaah etc., it is permissible for him to lead the prayer.

Proof

‘Amr ibn Salamah said:

“I used to memorize those words – meaning the Qur’aan – and it was as if it took root in my heart.
When Makkah was conquered, then every tribe hastened to embrace Islaam, and my father urged our tribe to hasten to embrace Islaam.

When my father returned (from the Prophet) to his tribe, he said,

‘By Allaah, I have come to you from the true Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam!’

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam afterwards said to them,

‘Offer such-and-such a prayer at such-and-such a time, and when the time for the prayer becomes due, then one of you should pronounce the Adhaan (for the prayer), and let the one amongst you who knows most Qur’aan lead the prayer.’

So they looked for such a person and found none who knew more Qur'aan than I, because of what I used to learn from the people.

So they made me their Imaam (to lead the prayer) and *at that time I was a boy of SIX or SEVEN YEARS.”*
(al-Bukhaari, 4051)

This proves that even a young boy, as little as six or seven years of age can lead the prayer.

But he should know the rulings on Salaah, tahaarah, etc. because in case he makes a mistake, he should know how to handle the situation.

And actually it might even be *“recommended”* for a young boy to lead the prayer because sometimes it so happens that the father is not that well-versed in Tajweed or memorization of the Qur’aan.

But he has a young son who is memorizing the Qur’aan and has learnt the proper Tajweed rules.

In such cases it would be BETTER for the son to lead the family in prayer even though he is young under the age of puberty.

 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“The people should be led in prayer by the one who has the most knowledge of the Book of Allaah; if they are equal in knowledge of the Qur’aan, then by the one who has most knowledge of the Sunnah.”
(Saheeh Muslim, 1530)

This will also establish the importance of prayer in the young boy’s heart, train him to lead prayers in the future, and help build confidence in him.

A woman asked Shaikh Salih al-Munajjid if her young son can lead her in prayer.

He said:

“The evidence to be found in the hadeeth is that these Sahaabah asked ‘Amr ibn Salamah to lead them in prayer when he was six or seven years old.

This indicates that a boy who has reached the age of discernment can lead the prayers.

If that were not permitted, there would have been Revelation to say that it was not allowed.

If your son fulfils all the conditions and obligations of the prayer, then there is nothing wrong with him leading you.”
(Islamqa Fatwa # 9933)

And the prayer of those praying behind him would be valid.

And Allaah knows best