If one of the worshippers leads the congregation and says the takbir, then sees the regular imam, does he go back?

The questioner : May Allah forgive you, O Shaykh: If the imam of the mosque is delayed and a person from the mosque's congregation steps forward, and then he sees the imam arrive after he has said the takbir of intention, and the regular imam of the mosque is present, is it permissible for him to leave, go back, and put the regular imam in front, or not, O Shaykh?

The Shaykh : First: It is not permissible for anyone to step forward before the regular imam unless he has told them: "If a third of an hour, or a quarter of an hour, or half an hour has passed, as he has decided, then establish the prayer." Some people, may Allah protect us from that, are negligent; if the imam is delayed by two or three minutes, they say: "Establish the prayer." This is not permissible, because the imam in his mosque is like the ruler over his subjects. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So let them wait. But if he has given them permission and said: "If a third of an hour has passed, then establish the prayer," and a third of an hour has passed, and they established the prayer, and one of them stepped forward, and then the imam arrived, the imam has the right to step forward and that person should move back to the row, because the imam is the one with authority in his mosque. Is it better for him to step forward and for the one who established the prayer to move back, or is it better for him to join the congregation? The most likely case is that the second option is better and further from enmity and hatred. So I see that if he arrives and one of the worshippers has already stepped forward, he should leave him in his position and not try to displace him, and complete the prayer with the people.

The questioner : Even in the first rak'ah, O Shaykh?

The Shaykh : In the first rak'ah or the last.

The questioner : May Allah forgive you, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : On the right.