Q: I would like to inform you that I have been traveling to
Makkah,
Al-Madinah,
Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia
and Al-Azhar Mosque
in
Egypt
in pursuit of acquiring knowledge. I received knowledge of Qur'anic sciences, Hadith literature, principles of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), Tawhid (monotheism), the Islamic science of inheritance, Arabic language, oratory arts from virtuous scholars such as the late Shaykh
Muhammad ibn `Aly ibn Turky,
Shaykh
Hammad Al-Harby,
Shaykh
Rashid Ahmad
director of the Salafy House of Sciences, Shaykh
Abu Bakr Jabir Al-Jaza'iry
at
Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah,
Shaykh
Yusuf Al-Milahy
in
Riyadh,
Shaykh
Muhammad Abu Zahrah
at Al-Azhar. (Part No. 7; Page No. 385) In addition, I completed my education as I received primary and secondary education at the Scientific Institute of
Riyadh
and then graduated from
Riyadh's
School of Islamic Law in 1389 AH. I am now working as the director of an secondary school at Bani Shahr district.A decree, issued by the Minister of Education and subsided by the letter of the Minister of Hajj and Awqaf (religious endowments), requests that teachers of religious sciences be assigned to work as Imams at Masjids (mosques) and to deliver sermons throughout Masjids of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I'm seriously interested in participating in this good deed with the intention of seeking reward only from Allah.Born one-armed as shown in my ID, I would like to know your opinion about me leading others in Salah.
A:
Your study of the Qur'an and religious sciences qualifies you to lead others in Salah. It is actually preferable that you lead them if you are the best among them in reciting the Qur'an properly and are the most learned about rulings related to Salah. This is based on the Hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
The one who is most versed in Allah's Book should act as an Imam for the people
There is nothing wrong with being born one-armed. The same applies if one of your arms was amputated due to an attack or illness. (Part No. 7; Page No. 386) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.