Al-Fawzaan on ‘Beware of So and So! Don’t Sit with So and So! Don’t Read to So and So!’

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Questioner: Ahsanallaahu ilaikum, do you have any blessed advice which you can direct to your sons and brothers from the students of knowledge throughout the Islamic ummah?
Al-Fawzaan: Yes, I advise you to fear Allaah, and to continue pursuing knowledge, doing so eagerly, and to act according to what Allaah has taught you, and to call to Allaah عز وجل, and to teach the people what you’ve learnt—and to leave squabbling, that which has taken place amongst the students of knowledge, hating [one another], cursing, setting people against each other, until they split the ummah and split the students of knowledge, [saying]: ‘Beware of so and so! Don’t sit with so and so! Don’t read to so and so!’—this is not allowed.
If so and so has a mistake, advise him one on one, as for you spreading it amongst the people and warning against him whilst he is a scholar or a student of knowledge or a righteous person who has made a mistake [then no], such a mistake does not necessitate that it be spread,

Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you do not know.  [Surat An-Nūr 24:19]

What is obligatory is to sincerely advise one another, what is obligatory is to love one another, especially the students of knowledge, especially the scholars, to respect the scholars, and not to recommend against some of them, and warn against them. This is the cause of many evils, the cause of fighting and hatred, the cause of fitnah—steer clear of these things.
May Allaah reward you all with good.
Be as Allaah wanted you to be:

And indeed this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so fear Me." [Surat Al-Mu'minūn 23:52]

And do not be like the ones who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. And those will have a great punishment. [Surat 'Āli `Imrān 3:105]

Aspire to bring about harmony. Seek to sincerely advise one another. Desire to co-operate in righteousness and piety.
Be on your guard against those things which split the Muslims—especially in this day and age. The Muslims are in need of unity, in need of eliminating discord amongst themselves, in need of cooperating in righteousness and piety. Don’t become a source of support for the enemy in breaking up the Muslims and disuniting them.
If disunity occurs between the scholars and the students of knowledge, who’s left for the Ummah?
The evil/damage [of such a predicament] isn’t on the masses, it comes back on the students of knowledge, those who reconcile between people, those who teach the people.
Leave these things, this wrangling, these altercations, these blameworthy characteristics.

“And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead?” [Hujuraat 49:12]

“And obey not every worthless habitual oath-monger. Hinderer of good, transgressing, sinful.” [Al-Qalam 68:10-12]
Don’t obey these people, such that you will end up being an aid to the Devil in splitting the Ummah and weakening it.
Sincerely advise the one you find a flaw in—if [indeed] it is established [that he really did make it in the first place!]

Don’t believe rumours.
“O you who have believed! If there comes to you a disobedient one with information, verify it, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and afterwards become regretful over what you have done.” [Hujuraat 49:6]
“O you who have believed! When you go forth in the cause of Allaah, investigate and do not say to one who gives you [a greeting of] peace, ‘You are not a believer.’” [Nisaa 4:94]
Allaah جل وعلا encouraged the Muslims to unite, and for them to be united in their word, and to cooperate and sincerely advise one another.
We’re not saying leave the mistake, no. Correct the mistake, we say correct the mistake, don’t leave the mistake, but correct it with legislated means.
May Allaah give all the success to do that which He loves and is pleased with.

Audio

وصلى الله على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين

Source:http://giftsofknowledge.net/2015/02/22/al-fawzaan-on-beware-of-so-and-so-dont-sit-with-so-and-so-dont-read-to-so-and-so/

Lessons from Surah Kahf

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Lessons from Surah Kahf  -By  Shayk Waleed  Basyouni

Whoever reflects upon Surat Al-Kahf will know that its meanings carry what would be incredibly beneficial for them in protecting them from the trials of this world and security from the dajjal. That is why its recitation was legislated every Friday out of Allah's wisdom and mercy.
Surat Al-Kahf encompasses four stories, four different types of trials (fitan) and four causes of salvation:

1) The companions of the cave: The fitnah of religion.
Their story was of believing youth who were living amongst disbelievers and committed to migrate and flee with their religion after a clash between them and their people. Allah sufficed them with the mercy of the cave. When they awoke they found their entire community had become believers.
Their salvation: Righteous companionship.

2) The owner of the two gardens: The fitnah of wealth and children
The story of a man whom Allah blessed but forgot that blessing and belittled it. He was arrogant and didnt thank Allah for the blessings though his companion reminded him. When his wealth was destroyed he was remorseful when remorse didn't count!
Salvation from that trial: Knowing the reality of the dunya

3) Musa and Khadr: The fitnah of knowledge.
The story of Musa when he was asked about who the most knowledgable person on earth was and he responded saying "me," without referring that knowledge back to Allah, and so Allah revealed to him that indeed there was. Musa then traveled to learn from that person that the Divine Wisdom could be incomprehensible at times, but the One designing it is All-Wise. Like the harming of the ship for example.
Salvation from that trial: Humility

4) The story of Dhul Qarnain = The fitnah of power
The story of a great ruler who was given both knowledge and power and traveled the earth relieving hardship and spreading goodness. He solved the problem of Yajuj and Majuj by sealing them in the earth and in doing so was able to mobilize the resources of a people who could hardly understand his speech!
Salvation from that trial: Sincerity

 What is the connection of Surat AlKahf to the Dajjal?

The dajjal will arrive with four trials:
1) He will demand that he be worshiped by the people (The fitnah of religion)
2) He will command the sky to rain and will be a trial of the people due to the amount of wealth he will possess (The fitnah of wealth)
3) He will be a trial for the people regarding the information he will possess and relay (The fitnah of knowledge)
4) He will have control over many parts of the world (The fitnah of power)

The causes of salvation related in the surah:
1) Righteous companionship
And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect. (Kahf v. 28)

2) Knowing the reality of this world
And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability (Kahf v. 45)
3) Humility
[Moses] said, "You will find me, if Allah wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in [any] order." (Kahf v. 69)

4) Sincerity
Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone." (Kahf v. 110)
May Allah protect all of us from the fitnah of the dajjal, and all fitan those apparent and those hidden.

Source:
https://www.facebook.com/ShaykhWaleedBasyouni/posts/10153031436085734
https://www.facebook.com/ShaykhWaleedBasyouni/posts/10153031914065734

So and So has become misguided

Beautiful advice from al-Allaamah Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Baaz (rahimahullah)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

كلام يسطر بماء الذهب

وصية ثمينة من عالم رباني:

قيل للشيخ ابن باز رحمه الله:

ياشيخ ، فلان انتكس، قال الشيخ :

لعل انتكاسته من أمرين :

إما أنه لم يسأل الله الثبات ، أو أنه لم يشكر الله على الإستقامة،

فحين اختارك الله لطريق هدايته،

ليس لأنك مميز أو لطاعةٍ منك ،

بل هي رحمة منه شملتك ،

قد ينزعها منك في أي لحظة ،

لذلك لا تغتر بعملك ولا بعبادتك

ولا تنظر باستصغار لمن ضلّ عن سبيله

فلولا رحمة الله بك لكنت مكانه .

أعيدوا قراءة هذه الآية بتأنٍّ

{ ولولا أن ثبتناك لقد كدت تركن إليهم شيئا قليلا}

إياك أن تظن أن الثبات على الإستقامة أحد إنجازاتك الشخصية .. تأمل قوله تعالى لسيد البشر..

ولولا أن ثبتناك”

فكيف بك !!؟.

نحنُ مخطئون عندما نتجاهل أذكارنا،

نعتقد أنها شيء غير مهم وننسى

بأن الله يحفظنا بها، وربما تقلب الأقدار..

يقول ابن القيم:

حاجة العبد للمعوذات أشدُ من حاجته للطعام والشراب واللباس..!

داوموا على اذكاركم لتُدركوا معنى:

احفظ الله يحفظك..

تحصنوا كل صباح ومساء ؛ فالدنيا مخيفة .. وفي جوفها مفاجأت .. والله هو الحافظ لعباده ..

It was said the the shaykh, "Oh shaykh so and so has become misguided"

The shaykh replied: "Perhaps his deviation was due to one of two things

1. Either He didn't ask Allah for thabaat (firmness)

2. Or He didn't thank Allah for istiqaamah (steadfastness)

So Allah didn't chose for you the path of guidance because your special or due to obedience from yourself.

But rather it was a mercy from Him that enveloped you. He can remove it from you at any time.

So due to that don't be deceived by your actions nor by your worship. And don't look down upon the one who was misguided from His path.

For had it not been due to His mercy you would have been in his position.

Repeat the recitation of this verse while pondering,
"Had We not made you firm (Oh Muhammed salallau alaihe wasallam) the you would have inclined towards them slightly." [Soorah al-Israa 17:74]

So do not to think that thabaat (firmness) upon istiqaamah (steadfastness) is due to your own achievement or your personality.

Ponder over His statement Ta'aalaa to the best of mankind.

"Had We not made you firm (Oh Muhammed salallahu alaihe wasallam)"

So how about you?!!

We are mistaken when we are ignorant about our athkaar (supplication of remembrance). We believe it something that is not important and we forget that Allah preserves us with it. Perhaps the decree will change.

Imaam Ibn Qayyim says:

"The need of the servant in (the dua by which he) seeks refuge [in Allah] is more severe than his need to food, drink and clothes!"

Be consistent in your athkaar (supplications of remembrance) in order to encompass the meaning: "Preserve Allah, He will preserve you."

Fortify [yourselves] every morning and evening [with your athkaar supplications of remembrance]. For the dunya (life of this world) is horrifying combined with surprises and Allah is the protector of His servants.

Abu Ukkaashah Abdul Hakeem Ibn James
Al-Hasan Al-Basrî advised some of his students admonishing them about avoiding the state of being proud. He said:

1) Do not deceive yourself into becoming too proud because you are in a good or righteous environment, for there is no place that is better than Paradise, and our father, Adam ‘alayhi salaam, experienced there what is known to all.

2) Do not become proud merely because you worship often, for consider what happened to Iblees after he spent a great deal of time worshipping.


3) Do not think of yourself great because you have met with righteous people, for there is no man more righteous than the Prophet salAllaahu ‘alahi wasallam, yet the disbelievers and hypocrites did not benefit by simply knowing him.

Gem from Sheik Muhammad Al-Munajjid

He said: "Don't insult your brother and thank Allaah Who protected you from sinning" They asked: "Do you not hate him (for his sin)?" He replied: "I only hate the sin he committed, and once he abandons it, then he remains my Muslim brother." (Reported by Al-Bayhaqi in his book Shu'ab Al-Eemaan (6415))  source : fbpage of sheik

Abu Ad-Dardaa(RA) passed by a man who had committed a sin and people were insulting him; he said: "If he were to fall into a well, would you not have rescued him?" They said: "Indeed."  source: fb page of shayk


Taqwa is the Best of Adornments
Dhu'n-Nun (may Allaah have mercy upon him) said:
"Allah has not disrobed any one of His servants or a robe better than intellect, and has not adorned him with a necklace better than knowledge, nor adorned him with anything better than mildness. And the completeness of that is taqwa (fear of Allah)."

(Adab ul-'Ishrah wa Dhikr as-Suhbah wa'l-Ukhuwwah, p. 9-20)

First Thing ALLAH azwajal created

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ


And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“The first thing that Allah created was the Pen, and He said to it, ‘Write!’ It said, ‘O Lord, what should I write?’ He said: ‘Write down the decrees of all things until the Hour begins.”

Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4700; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

In this hadeeth, is a rebuttal of what people pass on, to the point that it has become a creed that is firmly planted in a lot of their hearts; it is that the light of Muhammad was the first thing Allah the Glorified created. There is no basis for its authenticity, and the chain for the hadeeth of ‘Abdur Razaaq is not known, and we may write about it specifically in Silsilat al-Ahadeeth ad-Da’eefah in the future In shaa Allah.

It also consists of a rebuttal on the claim that the Throne was the first creation, and there is no textual evidence to support this on the authority of the Messenger – sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam – it was only said by some scholars such as ibn Taymiyyah through Ijtihaad derived from evidence, so taking by this hadeeth, and other ahaadeeth of its meaning, is more rightful. It is textual evidence on the issue, and there is no Ijtihaad in the presence of direct textual evidence as is well known.

Interpreting this hadeeth in saying that the Pen was created after the Throne is false; this type of interpretation is only valid if there is clear textual evidence that the Throne was the first of all creation unrestrictedly, including the Pen. However, this textual evidence is absent, so this interpretation is not permissible.

By Al-Imaam al-Albaani – From: As-Silsilah as-Saheehah Hadeeth # 133 – Translated by: Abu Abdul-Waahid, Nadir Ahmad

How can we reconcile between the following ahaadeeth:

“Allah existed and nothing existed before Him. His Throne was above the water. He wrote all things with His Hand, then He created the heavens and the earth”

and:

“As soon as Allah created the Pen…”?

These ahaadeeth appear to contradict one another as to which thing was created first, and the reports which say that the first one to be created was Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

Praise be to Allah.

These ahaadeeth are in harmony with one another; they do not contradict one another. The first thing that Allah created of the things that are known to us was His Throne, which He rose over after He created the heavens, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds”

[Hood 11:7]

With regard to the Pen, there is nothing in the hadeeth to indicate that the Pen was the first thing created. What the hadeeth means is that when Allah created the Pen, He commanded it to write, so it wrote down the decrees of all things.

With regard to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), like all other human beings, he was created from the water (semen) of his father, ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib. He is no different from other human beings in the manner in which he was created, as he said about himself,

“I am a human being, I forget as you forget.”

He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) felt fear, got thirsty, felt cold, suffered from the heat, got sick and died. Everything that humans go through as a part of human nature, he also went through, but he is distinguished by the fact that he received Revelation and he was qualified to bear the Message, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Allah knows best with whom to place His Message”

[al-An’aam 6:124]

From: Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Fadeelat al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, vol. 1, p. 62-63

The majority of scholars are of the view that the Throne was the first thing to be created.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

The first thing that Allah created of the things that are known to us was the Throne, and He rose over it (in a manner that befits His Majesty) after He had created the heavens, as Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds”

[Hood 11:7]

End quote from Fataawa wa Rasaa’il al-‘Uthaymeen (1/62)

Was the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) the first thing created by Allah?

Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the best of the creation of Allah, and the highest in status.

But he is not the first of the creation of Allah. The first thing that Allah created was the Throne, not Adam or Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

With regard to the reports that Allah created Muhammad from light and put his name next to His Name, and that when Adam was created and the spirit was breathed into him, he saw that his name was written by the Throne – there is no proof that any of these reports were narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). And Allah knows best.

Source: Fataawa Samaahat al-Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Humayd, p. 16

Narrated `Imran bin Hussain:
While I was with the Prophet (ﷺ) , some people from Bani Tamim came to him. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O Bani Tamim! Accept the good news!" They said, "You have given us the good news; now give us (something)." (After a while) some Yemenites entered, and he said to them, "O the people of Yemen! Accept the good news, as Bani Tamim have refused it. " They said, "We accept it, for we have come to you to learn the Religion. So we ask you what the beginning of this universe was." The Prophet (ﷺ) said "There was Allah and nothing else before Him and His Throne was over the water, and He then created the Heavens and the Earth and wrote everything in the Book." Then a man came to me and said, 'O `Imran! Follow your she-camel for it has run away!" So I set out seeking it, and behold, it was beyond the mirage! By Allah, I wished that it (my she-camel) had gone but that I had not left (the gathering). "
Sahih al-Bukhari 7418

And Allah knows best.

Source: https://dawatussalafiyyah.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/the-first-thing-allah-created/
Also see http://islamqa.info/en/9420

நல்ல (இனிய) சொல்லும் தர்மமாகும்

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

பொங்கு கருணையானும் தொடர் கிருபையாளனுமாகிய அல்லாஹ்வின் பெயர் கொண்டு...

17:53. (நபியே! எனக்கு கட்டுப்பட்ட) என்னுடைய அடியார்களுக்கு நீங்கள் கூறுங்கள்: அவர்கள் (எந்த மனிதருடன் பேசியபோதிலும்) எது மிக அழகியதோ அதையே கூறவும். நிச்சயமாக ஷைத்தான் அவர்களுக்கிடையில் (கெட்ட வார்த்தைகளைக் கூறும்படி செய்து) கெடுதலே செய்வான். (ஏனென்றால்,) நிச்சயமாக ஷைத்தான் மனிதனுக்குப் பகிரங்கமான எதிரியாக இருக்கிறான். (ஆகவே, எச்சரிக்கையாக இருந்து கொள்ளுங்கள்.)

33:70. (ஆகவே,) நம்பிக்கையாளர்களே! நீங்களும் அல்லாஹ்வுக்குப் பயந்து நேர்மையான விஷயங்களைக் கூறுங்கள்.

35:10. எவரேனும் கண்ணியத்தை விரும்பினால் கண்ணியம் முழுவதும் அல்லாஹ்வுக்கே உரியதாகும் (என்பதை அவர் தெரிந்துகொள்ள வேண்டும்). அவனை நோக்கி உயர்ந்து செல்வது தூய்மையான சொல் மட்டுமே! இன்னும் நற்செயல் அதனை மேலே உயர்த்துகின்றது. மேலும், எவர்கள் தீயசூழ்ச்சிகள் செய்கின்றார்களோ அவர்களுக்குக் கடுமையான வேதனை இருக்கிறது. மேலும், அவர்களுடைய சூழ்ச்சிகள் தானாகவே அழியக்கூடியவையாக இருக்கின்றன.

நல்ல (இனிய) சொல்லும் தர்மமாகும்.அறிவிப்பவர் : அபூஹுரைரா (ரலி)

நூல் : புகாரி (2989)

நபி (ஸல்) அவர்கள் கூறினார்கள் பேரீச்சம் பழத்தின் ஒரு துண்டைத் தர்மம் செய்தேனும் நரகத்தி­ருந்து உங்களைக் காப்பாற்றிக் கொள்ளுங்கள். அதுவும் இல்லையானால் இன் சொல்லைக் கொண்டாவது (காப்பாற்றிக் கொள்ளுங்கள்) என்றார்கள்.

அறிவிப்பவர் : அதீ பின் ஹாத்திம் (ரலி)

.நூல் : புகாரி (6023)

அல்லாஹ்வின் தூதர் (ஸல்) அவர்கள் கூறினார்கள் பறவை சகுனம் என்பது கிடையாது. சகுனங்களில் சிறந்தது நற்குறியே ஆகும் என்று சொன்னார்கள். மக்கள் நற்குறி என்பதென்ன? என்று கேட்டார்கள். நபி (ஸல்) அவர்கள் அது நீங்கள் செவியுறும் நல்ல (மங்கலகரமான) சொல்லாகும் என்று பதிலளித்தார்கள்.

அறிவிப்பவர் : அபூஹுரைரா (ரலி).

நூல் : புகாரி (5754)

ஒரு மனிதர் அல்லாஹ்வின் தூதர் (ஸல்) அவர்களிடம் உங்களுக்குப் பிறகு (வேறுயாரிடமும் விளக்கம்) நான் கேட்காத அளவிற்கு இஸ்லாத்திலே ஒரு விஷயத்தை எனக்கு சொல்லுங்கள் என்று கேட்டார். அல்லாஹ்வை நம்புகிறேன் என்று கூறி (அதில்) நிலைத்துநில் என்று நபி (ஸல்) அவர்கள் கூறினார்கள். அல்லாஹ்வின் தூதரே நான் எதை பாதுகாத்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டும்? என்று கேட்டார். அதற்கு நபி (ஸல்) அவர்கள் தன்னுடைய கையால் நாவை சுட்டிக்காட்டினார்கள்.

அறிவிப்பவர் : சுஃப்யான் பின் அப்தில்லாஹ் (ரலி)

நூல் : அஹ்மத் (14870)

Who should lead the Salah?

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Al-Hamdu-Lillaahi Rabbil-'Aalameen was-Salaatu was-Salaamu 'alaa Ashrafil-Anbiyaa.e wal-Mursaleen, wa ba'd:

We happen to pray in Jama in a Non Masjid environment like College, University and or office Environment that many times we are careless about the advise of Prophet (ﷺ) on who should lead the Salah. Someone who is most fit to lead the Salah asks someone else and someone who is least qualified comes forward and leads to the Salah. This is a disobeyance to Prophet (ﷺ).

When we read Raheequl Maqtum, the sealed nectar, we can see the following Hadith under the title  "Four days before the Prophet death", which shows how important on the person who should lead a Salah and it is not random choice.

Narrated `Aisha:
When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) became seriously ill, Bilal came to him for the prayer. He said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stands in your place, he would not be able to make the people hear him. Will you order `Umar (to lead the prayer)?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." Then I said to Hafsa, "Tell him, Abu i Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stands in his place, he would not be able to make the people hear him. Would you order `Umar to lead the prayer?' " Hafsa did so. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Verily you are the companions of Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." So Abu- Bakr stood for the prayer. In the meantime Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) felt better and came out with the help of two persons and both of his legs were dragging on the ground till he entered the mosque. When Abu Bakr heard him coming, he tried to retreat but Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) beckoned him to carry on. The Prophet (ﷺ) sat on his left side. Abu Bakr was praying while standing and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was leading the prayer while sitting. Abu Bakr was following the Prophet (ﷺ) and the people were following Abu Bakr (in the prayer). [Sahih al-Bukhari 713]

Why Not Umar (RA) ?  Why  Abu Bakr (RA)?  It shows how important is on one who should lead the Salah..

Lets see the proofs on who should lead the Salah:

First the foremost is the Hadith in Sahih Muslim. Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj titles the hadith  as "Who is more entitled to lead the prayer". 

Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to us: The one who is well grounded in Allah's Book and is distinguished among them in recitation should act as; Imam for the people. and if they are equally versed in reciting it, then the one who has most knowledge regarding Sunnah; if they are equal regarding the Sunnah, then the earliest one to emigrate; If they emigrated at the same time, then the oldest one in age. No man must lead another in prayer in latter's house or where (the latter) has authority, or sit in his place of honour in his house, except that he gives you permission or with his permission. [Sahih Muslim 673 c]

What is meant by “the one who has most knowledge of the Qur’aan” is not the one who can recite it most beautifully, but rather the one who has memorized more of the Book of Allaah. This is indicated by the hadeeth of ‘Amr ibn Salamah who said:

We were at a place which was a thoroughfare for the people, and the caravans used to pass by us and we would ask them, "What is wrong with the people? What is wrong with the people? Who is that man?. They would say, "That man claims that Allah has sent him (as an Apostle), that he has been divinely inspired, that Allah has revealed to him such-and-such." I used to memorize that (Divine) Talk, and feel as if it was inculcated in my chest (i.e. mind) And the 'Arabs (other than Quraish) delayed their conversion to Islam till the Conquest (of Mecca). They used to say." "Leave him (i.e. Muhammad) and his people Quraish: if he overpowers them then he is a true Prophet. So, when Mecca was conquered, then every tribe rushed to embrace Islam, and my father hurried to embrace Islam before (the other members of) my tribe. When my father returned (from the Prophet) to his tribe, he said, "By Allah, I have come to you from the Prophet (ﷺ) for sure!" The Prophet (ﷺ) afterwards said to them, 'Offer such-and-such prayer at such-and-such time, and when the time for the prayer becomes due, then one of you should pronounce the Adhan (for the prayer), and let the one amongst you who knows Qur'an most should, lead the prayer." So they looked for such a person and found none who knew more Qur'an than I because of the Qur'anic material which I used to learn from the caravans. They therefore made me their Imam ((to lead the prayer) and at that time I was a boy of six or seven years. [Sahih al-Bukhari 4302]

Al-Nawawi said:
Maalik, al-Shaafa’i and their companions said that the one who has more knowledge of fiqh should take precedence over the one who knows more Qur’aan, because what he needs of recitation is known but what he needs of fiqh may not be clear. There may arise during the prayer some matter where only a person who has complete knowledge of fiqh will be able to know the right thing to do. They said that this is the reason why the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) to lead the prayer rather than anyone else, even though he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had stated that others had more knowledge of Qur’aan than him.

Ibn Qudaamah said:
If one of them has more knowledge of the rulings on prayer, and the other has more knowledge of matters other than prayer, then the one who has more knowledge about prayer should be given precedence.
Al-Mughni, 2/19

The Standing Committee said:
If this is understood, then it is not permissible for one who is ignorant to lead the prayer unless he is leading others like him, if there is no one who is better qualified to lead the prayer.
Fataawa Islamiyyah, 1/264

In an anonymous environment, it would not be Clear on who has more knowledge of Quran and Sunnah. Because some may remember many verses of a big surah and some may remember short surah's and verses.
Someone may remember a few Hadith and someone else may remember few other hadith which the former don't remember. Someone may remember more hadith but they may not follow it.

The third condition is the one who emigrated to Islam, which is not valid today.

The fourth condition is the oldest one in age. This  is usually not difficult to determine. There is also another Hadith reported in Sahih Bukhari

Narrated Malik bin Huwairith:
Two men came to the Prophet (ﷺ) with the intention of a journey. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When (both of) you set out, pronounce Adhan and then Iqama and the oldest of you should lead the prayer." [ Sahih al-Bukhari 630 , Sahih al-Bukhari 631 , Sahih Muslim 674 a- 674 c]

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Anyone who does not show mercy to our children nor acknowledge the right of our old people is not one of us." Sahih (Al-Albani)   Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 353

On a side note, the fifth conditons excludes all of them if the place is a private place belonging to someone else.
"No man must lead another in prayer in latter's house or where (the latter) has authority, or sit in his place of honour in his house, except that he gives you permission or with his permission"

Reference: http://islamqa.info/en/20219


It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“There are three whose prayer do not rise more than a hand span above their heads: A man who leads people (in prayer) when they do not like him; a woman who has spent the night with her husband angry with her; and two brothers who have severed contact with one another.”
Sunan Ibn Majah 1024
Grade : Hasan (Darussalam)