Performing the Prayer Without the Imam’s Command

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: In the hadith, “O Bilal, make a pause between your adhan and your iqamah.” He asks: Does this indicate that the prayer is established without the imam’s command, so that it is not required for him to be the one who commands the iqamah?

Answer:
No, the imam has more authority over the iqamah, and the mu’adhdhin has more authority over the adhan. As for the iqamah, the imam has more authority over it. So the mu’adhdhin does not call the adhan, and he does not call the iqamah until the imam orders him to do so in this regard. However, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) wanted to make it clear to people in general that he should leave a space between the adhan and the iqamah, meaning a sufficient interval. Yes.