Which of the two is more worthy of leading the prayer (Imamate): one who prays five prayers with a not-so-beautiful recitation, or one who sometimes prays with a beautiful recitation?

The one most worthy of leading the prayer (Imamah) is the one who is diligent in observing the prayers. One who occasionally abandons prayer is considered a transgressor (fasiq) if their abandonment is due to laziness. It is disliked to have a fasiq lead the prayer, and some scholars even consider such a person a disbeliever. A just person is to be preferred over a fasiq in leading the prayer, even if the fasiq is more knowledgeable of the Quran, due to a lack of trust in them and the dislike of praying behind them. It is not permissible for those in authority to appoint a fasiq as an Imam for prayers, even though the prayer behind them is valid, because their imamate is disliked. Some scholars have gone so far as to invalidate the prayer if the Imam's transgression is related to the prayer itself, but the relied-upon opinion is that the prayer behind a fasiq is valid, though disliked, unless their transgression pertains to the prayer.