What is the virtue of the Imam in prayer; does he receive a reward similar to that of the congregants, or more?

Leading the prayer is a noble and greatly virtuous function, and the Imam is a guarantor for the congregants' prayer. The reward for a fully qualified Imam is greater than the reward for a congregant, because the Imam is the cause for the congregants to attain the virtue of congregational prayer. This is supported by the jurists' saying that if equals in qualification for the imamate contend for it seeking reward, then lots should be cast between them.