Section: There is no disagreement regarding placing an intersex person (khuntha) before a woman, because it is possible that they are a man, and the minimum of their status is that they are equal to her. There is also no disagreement regarding placing a free person before a slave due to their honor and precedence over them in leadership (imamah), nor regarding placing an elder before a young person likewise. Al-Khallal narrated with his chain of authority from Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, regarding the funeral of a man and a woman, a free person and a slave, and a young person and an elder, that the man is placed closer to the imam, the woman in front of him, the elder closer to the imam, the young person in front of him, the free person closer to the imam, and the slave in front of him. If a young free person and an old slave are gathered, Ahmad said, in the narration of al-Hasan ibn Muhammad (8), regarding a free boy and an old slave: "The free person is placed closer to the imam." This is the choice of al-Khallal, and those who narrated otherwise have erred, and they used as evidence the statement of Ali: "The free person is closer to the imam, and the slave is behind that." Abu al-Harith reported: "The elder of the two is placed closer to the imam," and this is more correct, if Allah Almighty wills, because they are placed [first] in the row in prayer. Ali's statement was intended for when they are equal in age; this is evidenced by his saying: "The elder is closer to the imam, and the young person is in front of that."

Section: If they are of one type, the most virtuous of them is placed closer to the imam, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on the day of Uhud would bury two or three in one grave and place the one who had memorized the most Quran in front (9). This is because the most virtuous is placed first in the row of the prescribed prayer, so he is placed first here, like the man with the woman. His statement, peace be upon him, has indicated this principle: "Let those among you who are mature and possess understanding be closest to me" (10). If they are equal in virtue, the eldest is placed first, then the next eldest. [Al-Maymuni said: I heard Ahmad say more than once: The elder, those of advanced age, the eldest then the next eldest, are closest to the imam] (12). If they are...