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it.' The Imam (as) replied, 'It does not matter if you intend to convey (only) the meaning of the tradition.'" Al-Usul al-Kafi, Kulayni.
(This hadith does not refer to the transmission, collection or recording of hadith where the accurate rendition of the original wording and a full isnad are required. The sources and rulings on the preservation of ahadith are well known and not pertinent to this discussion except that the person who uses an hadith for a specific purpose should have a sufficient general knowledge of 'Ilm al-Hadith.)
He should not indulge his own fancies or personal preferences and must be aware of the implications of what he is saying. He should, as Imam 'Ali (as) said, "control his tongue" and if he is aware that he has a tendency towards being over creative in his speech or misinterpreting the meaning of what others have said then he should for his own well being refrain from speaking. Imam Abu Ja'far (as) said, "He who gives any lesson in a gateway towards guidance shares equal rewards with the people who act upon it without the slightest reduction in the reward of those who act. He who gives any lesson in any gateway towards misguidance shares equal punishment with the people who act upon it without the slightest deduction from the punishment of the sinners." Al-Usul al-Kafi, Kulayni.
The speaker upon the Minbar should also be rational, reliable and consistent because Imam 'Ali (as) said, "The heart of the learned scholar is always free from stupidity and inadvertence." Al-Usul al-Kafi, Kulayni.
This does not refer to problems caused by age, illness or injury to an established scholar. He retains the right to be respected for his former ability that will be restored to him in the afterlife. It does refer to those who by their natures are flawed or who lack experience and learning. Abu Abdillah (as) reports the Holy Prophet (saw) as saying, "A time will come for my community in which hearing the name of the man who recites will be considered better than studying, and studying will be considered better than doing the thing with experience…The greatest number of hypocrites in my community are among the reciters of the Quran." Lantern of the Path, trans. Haeri.
The people are of course free to listen to whomever they choose. This choice is, usually, made on their behalf by the committees that they have elected. These committees undertake to perform certain duties on behalf of their communities. They maintain and manage an infrastructure that at the minimum discharges the collective religious responsibilities of the members. In the case of a resident or visiting Alim, who is to lead prayer, it is their responsibility to ensure that the person under consideration fulfils the criteria specified in the fatawa of the Marja'i to the best of their ability. If they are not qualified or cannot make such inquiries that are required then their implied duty is to consult with those who are qualified. The
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