SAEDNEWS: In congregational prayer, a person known for piety and integrity stands at the front of the group, while the other worshippers pray behind him. The person who leads the congregation in prayer is called the Imam.
According to Saednews, Two new religious rulings have been issued by Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei regarding the permissible distance in congregational prayer and the qualifications of the prayer leader.
Question: What is the maximum distance permitted for maintaining a valid connection between worshippers in congregational prayer?
Answer: The distance between the prayer leader and the follower, as well as the distance between the rows of the congregation, should not be excessive. As a precautionary obligatory measure, the distance between the place where a follower prostrates and the place where the prayer leader stands, as well as the distance between the place where the front row stands and the place where the next row prostrates, should not exceed one long step (approximately one meter).
Question: What qualifications must a prayer leader have?
Answer: The prayer leader must be sane, just, a Twelver Shia Muslim, and of legitimate birth. As an obligatory precaution, he should also be an adult and must perform the prayer correctly. If the follower is male, the prayer leader must also be male.
