from among the Arabs, far from Medina, and this possibility is strengthened by his statement in the hadith: "And when I prostrated, my buttocks would protrude." This is not permissible.

Section: As for his leadership in a supererogatory prayer, there are two narrations regarding it: The first is that it is not valid, due to what we mentioned regarding the obligatory prayer. The second is that it is valid, because he is one performing a supererogatory prayer leading others who are performing a supererogatory prayer, and because the supererogatory prayer admits of leniency, which is why a congregation (30) is formed by him in it when he is a follower.

Section: It is disliked for a person to lead a group of people most of whom dislike him, based on what Abu Umamah narrated, saying: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "There are three whose prayer does not rise above their ears: a runaway slave until he returns, a woman who spends the night while her husband is displeased with her, and an imam of a people who dislike him" (31). Al-Tirmidhi said: This is a hasan gharib hadith. And from 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "There are three from whom prayer is not accepted: one who takes the lead of a people who dislike him, a man who comes to prayer dibaran"—and al-dibar is that one comes after the time has passed—"and a man who enslaves a freed person." Narrated by Abu Dawud (32). 'Ali said to a man who led a people while they disliked him: You are truly a kharut (33). Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: If one, two, or three people dislike him, there is no harm, until the majority of the people dislike him. And if he is a person of religion and Sunnah, and the people dislike him for that, his leadership is not disliked. Mansur said: We asked about the matter of the Imamah, and it was said to us: He only meant by this the oppressors. As for one who upholds the Sunnah, the sin is only upon those who dislike him.

Section: It is not disliked for a Bedouin (a'rabi) to lead the prayer if he is fit for it. This was explicitly stated by Ahmad. This is the view of 'Ata', al-Thawri, al-Shafi'i, Ishaq, and the People of Opinion (Ashab al-Ra'y). Abu Mijlaz disliked