Page "Mosque" Paragraph 76

Appointment of a prayer leader is considered desirable, but not always obligatory.

The permanent prayer leader ( imam ) must be a free honest individual and is authoritative in religious matters.

In mosques constructed and maintained by the government, the prayer leader is appointed by the ruler ; in private mosques, however, appointment is made by members of the congregation through majority voting.

According to the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence, the individual who built the mosque has a stronger claim to the title of imam, but this view is not shared by the other schools.