A minor leading the tarawih prayer

Question

Zayd’s son is 13 years old and a hafiz of the Qur’an. He wishes to recite the noble Qur’an in tarawih; if he does not recite it, there is a fear that he will forget the noble Qur’an. Is his leading of the fard prayers and of tarawih valid or not?

Answer

If the boy has reached maturity, then all prayers behind him — both fard and tarawih — are valid. If he is a minor, then neither the fard prayer nor tarawih is valid behind him: for leading both fard and tarawih, maturity (bulugh) is a condition according to the view on which the fatwa is given. In this matter the boy’s own statement is accepted.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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