An Imaam whose Beard has not yet Grown

Q: Salaah-400: I am a Haafidh and although I am 25 years of age, my beard has not yet grown. I intend being the Imaam of a Masjid but some people are objecting, saying that elder people cannot perform salaah behind me. Are they right? Can I be the Imaam?

Answer: If you know the rulings concerning the factors that nullify and validate salaah, if you are able to recite the Qur'aan with proper Tajweed and if people do not doubt your religiousness, then they will be wrong to regard you as an unsuitable Imaam based solely on the fact that your beard has not grown. It will however be Makrooh for a person to be an Imaam if he is young, handsome and without a beard, because of which people may harbour lust after him. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2