Who has more right to lead the prayer (Imamah): the non-Arab who has memorized Allah's Book but pronounces some letters incorrectly, or the Arab who is authorized in recitation but has memorized little, or the assistant preacher who dislikes leading the prayer? And what is the ruling on putting the non-Arab forward to lead the prayer when others are unwilling to step forward, citing responsibility as their reason?

It is from the Sunnah that the people be led in prayer by the one among them who is most skilled in reciting the Book of Allah. If they are equal in this, then by the one most knowledgeable of the Sunnah. If they are equal in that, then by the one who emigrated earliest. If they are equal in that, then by the one who embraced Islam earliest. If the non-Arab Imam makes a grammatical error in Al-Fatiha that changes its meaning, then it is not permissible to pray behind him except for one who is similar to him. If he is capable of learning but does not, then his prayer is invalid. However, if his error does not change the meaning, or if it is in a part of the prayer other than Al-Fatiha, then praying behind him is valid, because the measure of merit in the sight of Allah is piety and righteous deeds.