A group of people entered the mosque before the iqamah and prayed before the iqamah. What is the ruling on their prayer?

The questioner : He says: O honorable Shaykh, a group of people entered the mosque before the iqamah and prayed before the iqamah. What is the ruling on their prayer?

The Shaykh : Yes, it is not permissible for a person to establish the congregation in a mosque that has a regular imam without the imam's permission. If these people say, "We are travelers and we cannot wait until the imam comes and prays," we say: the matter is broad. If you are travelers, travel and pray on the way. However, praying in a mosque that has an imam before his arrival is not permissible, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade that and said: The authority of the mosque is its imam, so one must wait until the imam arrives. If they say, "We are travelers and we cannot stay," we say: Praise be to Allah, you are excused from missing the congregation. Travel and pray wherever you wish.