Imamate of a boy

Q 3: A man entered the Masjid (mosque) and found a group of youth; the eldest of them was twelve years old. Is the Imamate (leading people in prayer) of this boy valid?

A: The Imamate of a boy who is aware of the acts of Salah is valid because of the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him), The one who has memorized the most Qur'an should lead the people in Salah... It is also authentically reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari on the authority of `Umar ibn Salamah Al-Jarmy that he said: My father returned after meeting the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said that he had heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say, When the time for the prayer becomes due, let the person amongst you who knows Qur'an most lead the prayer. They looked for such a person and found none who knew more Qur'an than I. They therefore made me their Imam (to lead the prayer) and at that time I was a six or seven-year-old boy. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.