“Most knowledgeable of the Sunnah” refers to practical mastery of prayer’s requirements and rulings, not simply broad cultural familiarity. An imam needs to know how to lead a valid prayer and respond to relevant errors; that competence explains the Hanafi priority.
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Why Knowledge of the Sunnah Comes First
Congregational Prayer: Its Status, Priority in Leading, and Conduct of the Imam
“Most knowledgeable of the Sunnah” refers to practical mastery of prayer’s requirements and rulings, not simply broad cultural familiarity. An imam needs to know how to lead a valid prayer and respond to relevant errors; that competence explains the Hanafi priority.