An adult following a minor

Question

Will a minor’s own fard prayer be regarded as fard, or as nafl and sunna? If it is nafl and sunna, is it permissible or not for a minor to become imam and for an adult to follow him?

Answer

Prayer is not fard for a minor; therefore it is not permissible for an adult to follow a minor: [ar]فلا يصح اقتداء بالغ بصبي مطلقًا، سواء كان في فرض لأن صلاة الصبي ولو نوى الفرض نفل، أو في نفل لأن نفله لا يلزمه[/ar] “Hence an adult’s following a boy is not valid at all — whether in a fard prayer, because the boy’s prayer is nafl even if he intends the fard, or in a nafl…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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