Who is more eligible for leading prayers of the following? 1. An unmarried Hafiz with beard 2. An ummarried Hafiz who shaves beard 3. A Hafiz who is not adult 4. A person who has beard but not Tajweed 5. A person who has not beard but has Tajweed 6. A person who is Hafiz but wants to lead in trousers with shirt tucked in 7. A married person who has all sunnah but no Tajweed 8. An Alim or Hafiz 9. A person who shaves but is very good Qari.
If all 9 candidates are available, then candidate (8) an Aalim who adheres to the Shari?ah, for example, has a Shar’ee beard, Sunnah attire, etc. should lead the Salaat.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai