and the imam are both absent, the imam is among the leaders who lead others astray. If the congregation is present with God and the imam alone is absent, the imam alone is astray. If he attains felicity, it is through those behind him. If the imam alone is present and the hearts of the congregation are absent in that prayer, the imam intercedes for the entire congregation. He is the person the congregation looks to, so the purpose has been fulfilled.
(Presence and Fitness to Lead Prayer)
This is why people of religion and goodness who are occupied with God should be chosen to lead prayer, even if they have little learning. They have a stronger claim to lead than heedless scholars. What is sought from the person praying is presence with God. All the knowledge he needs as someone praying is to know that he is before his Lord, conversing intimately with Him by reciting whatever of His Book God has made easy for him. He need not concern himself during his prayer with whatever learning he lacks.
If the person praying brings to mind a transaction or questions of divorce and marriage during his intimate converse, he is no different from someone who is heedless of his prayer. He is with God insofar as he stands before Him in a particular act of worship to which God has called him. Inwardly he is forbidden whatever is forbidden outwardly. Just as he should not turn his face away from the direction of prayer, he should not look with his heart to anyone other than the One with whom he converses intimately, who is God.
Just as he keeps his tongue to the speech of his Lord or the remembrance prescribed for him, since no ordinary human speech is valid in prayer,
Notes
Translator’s note TN1867-1: Presence in this passage is the presence of the heart with God. The imam and the follower can both be at prayer and both lack this presence.
