Is it valid to gather outside the mosque before the Maghrib or 'Isha' prayers to wait for the iqamah?

Question:
What do you advise those who gather at the mosques before the Maghrib or 'Isha' prayers until the iqamah is called, and then enter the mosque?

Answer:
This is a loss of reward. What is recommended for them is that they enter the mosque, pray, supplicate to Allah, and recite the Qur'an until the iqamah is called. This is what secures the reward for waiting for the prayer. The one who waits for the prayer is in the ruling of the one who is praying; he has the same reward as the one who is praying. So they should hasten to enter and sit in the mosque, waiting for the prayer, so that they may obtain this great reward.