Performing the prayer before its designated time and a member of the congregation preceding the imam

The questioner:
May Allah reward you. The questioner says: I am the imam of a mosque. I entered the mosque to lead them in the Fajr prayer, but one of the congregation, O Shaykh, had already called the iqamah and prayed with them before the designated time for the iqamah. What is the correct position in such a case?

The Shaykh:
Yes.

The questioner:
He says: He is the imam of a mosque. He says: I entered the mosque to lead them in the Fajr prayer, but one of the congregation hastened, called the iqamah, and prayed with them before the designated time for the iqamah.

The Shaykh:
This is haram (forbidden), as the jurists have stated that it is haram (forbidden) to lead in a mosque before its regular imam unless with his permission or due to his excuse. If he did not give permission, then the one who prayed with them has committed a sin, but their prayers are valid. However, he should be advised against doing so. Yes. Yes.