Prayer without the permission of the regular imam
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Q: There is a mosque with an imam, and sometimes a man prays and leads the people without the permission of the regular imam. Is his prayer valid?
A: If the imam is delayed beyond the usual time and some of the ma'mum (those praying behind him) step forward to lead the people in prayer, there is no harm in it; his prayer is valid, and their prayers are valid. This is because when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was delayed, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf led the people in prayer, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not disapprove of it; rather, he approved of it and prayed with them for the remainder of the prayer. It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that during the expedition to Tabuk, during the Fajr prayer, he was delayed in relieving himself. When the time for prayer arrived and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was delayed, the iqamah (second call to prayer) was made, and 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf al-Zuhri (may Allah be pleased with him) —one of the ten promised Paradise—led the people in prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived when 'Abd al-Rahman had prayed one rak'ah. He intended to step back, but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gestured to him to continue, so he continued in the prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with him the remaining rak'ah. When 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf completed the prayer with the taslim, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up with al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah, and they made up what they had missed.
This indicates that if the imam is delayed, the congregation should not be left without prayer; rather, they should appoint whom they wish from among the people of good to lead them in prayer so that the people are not left without prayer. This is the truth. However, if some people rush and make the iqamah before the time for prayer has arrived, this is an error and is not permissible. No one may step forward to lead the regular imam before the usual time arrives unless with his permission. End of the answer.
A: If the imam is delayed beyond the usual time and some of the ma'mum (those praying behind him) step forward to lead the people in prayer, there is no harm in it; his prayer is valid, and their prayers are valid. This is because when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was delayed, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf led the people in prayer, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not disapprove of it; rather, he approved of it and prayed with them for the remainder of the prayer. It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that during the expedition to Tabuk, during the Fajr prayer, he was delayed in relieving himself. When the time for prayer arrived and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was delayed, the iqamah (second call to prayer) was made, and 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf al-Zuhri (may Allah be pleased with him) —one of the ten promised Paradise—led the people in prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived when 'Abd al-Rahman had prayed one rak'ah. He intended to step back, but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gestured to him to continue, so he continued in the prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with him the remaining rak'ah. When 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf completed the prayer with the taslim, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up with al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah, and they made up what they had missed.
This indicates that if the imam is delayed, the congregation should not be left without prayer; rather, they should appoint whom they wish from among the people of good to lead them in prayer so that the people are not left without prayer. This is the truth. However, if some people rush and make the iqamah before the time for prayer has arrived, this is an error and is not permissible. No one may step forward to lead the regular imam before the usual time arrives unless with his permission. End of the answer.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.