so too he is forbidden inwardly, during the prayer itself, to converse in his mind with someone he would buy from, sell to, or speak with, whether family, child, brothers, or ruler. For this reason extensive learning is no condition for leading prayer. What is sought is what befits this state.
If someone in this state of religious devotion, watchfulness, and modesty before God also has extensive learning, is firmly grounded, and is a person of distinction, he has the stronger claim to lead. He is superior to someone who lacks those qualities.
(The Rows in Prayer and the Scene of the Resurrection)
The rows in prayer have been prescribed to remind a person that he will stand before God on the Day of Resurrection in that dreadful place. The intercessors among the prophets, believers, and angels are like the imams in prayer. They advance before the rows. How many a follower in the rows here will tomorrow be an imam before the rows, while the imam who led him in prayer in this world will tomorrow follow him! What a cause for regret!
Their rows in prayer are like the rows of the angels before God. God Most High says, “and the angels, row upon row” [al-Fajr 89:22]. He also says, “and the angels in a row. They will not speak, except one whom the All-Merciful permits” [al-Nabaʾ 78:38]. This is the imam who represents the congregation. The Real has commanded us to stand in rows in prayer as the angels stand in rows, close together.
If a gap were to arise in the ranks of the angels, meaning the angels of heaven, it would not follow that devils would enter it, since heaven affords no place or lodging for devils. The angels stand close together because of the affinity of their lights, so that
