Sahih Muslim #672a · The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer

Sahih MuslimAbu Said al-Khudri
Sahih Muslim · Book 5 · The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer
Sahih Muslim · كتاب 5 · كتاب المساجد ومواضع الصلاة
When there are three persons, one of them should lead them. The one among them most worthy to act as Imam is one who is best versed in the Qur'an.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏
"‏ إِذَا كَانُوا ثَلاَثَةً فَلْيَؤُمَّهُمْ أَحَدُهُمْ وَأَحَقُّهُمْ بِالإِمَامَةِ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏
Reference : Sahih Muslim 672aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 362