Sayyiduna Abu Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“The one who should lead the people in prayer is the one who has the most knowledge of Allah’s Book. If they are equal in recitation, then the one who has the most knowledge of the Sunnah should lead. If they are equal in knowledge of the Sunnah, then the one who migrated earlier should lead. If they are equal in migration, then the one who is older in age should lead. And no one should lead another in his place of authority, nor should he sit in his specific seat. However, if he gives permission, then the ruling is different.”