The ruling on the imam arriving early to the mosque
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Question:
Honorable Shaykh, the imam of a mosque wishes to arrive early before the adhan or immediately after it. However, I have been informed that a scholar issued a fatwa stating that the imam’s early arrival at the mosque is contrary to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as he would not arrive except at the time of the iqamah. Is this statement correct?
Answer:
This is what is correct. The imam has the choice; he may come to the mosque and sit in the mosque until the iqamah, or if he wishes, he may pray in his house, sit in his house, and come when the call is made. There is leeway in this matter, and it is broad. He may do as he wishes, except on Friday. On Friday, he should be the best of them in his conduct or in a place outside the mosque until the time comes, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did, and just as the scholars used to do. This is for Friday. As for the other obligatory prayers, if he wishes, he may come and sit in the mosque, or if he wishes, he may sit in his house until the iqamah is called.
Honorable Shaykh, the imam of a mosque wishes to arrive early before the adhan or immediately after it. However, I have been informed that a scholar issued a fatwa stating that the imam’s early arrival at the mosque is contrary to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as he would not arrive except at the time of the iqamah. Is this statement correct?
Answer:
This is what is correct. The imam has the choice; he may come to the mosque and sit in the mosque until the iqamah, or if he wishes, he may pray in his house, sit in his house, and come when the call is made. There is leeway in this matter, and it is broad. He may do as he wishes, except on Friday. On Friday, he should be the best of them in his conduct or in a place outside the mosque until the time comes, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did, and just as the scholars used to do. This is for Friday. As for the other obligatory prayers, if he wishes, he may come and sit in the mosque, or if he wishes, he may sit in his house until the iqamah is called.
Source
شرح الكافية الشافية في الانتصار للفرقة الناجية [ القصيدة النونية ] [ صالح الفوزان ]، فصل : في بيان الاستغناء بالوحي المنزل من السماء عن تقليد الرجال والآراء — islamhouse.com (1:08:53)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.