What is prescribed if the people arrive after the imam has prayed alone?

Question:
We return at the beginning of this episode to a message sent to the program by one of the listening brothers who preferred not to have his name mentioned. We presented some of his questions in a previous episode, and in this episode he has a collection of questions. He says: If a person goes to the mosque as the imam, and no one comes to pray, and then he prays, and then people arrive after he has prayed, does he pray with them, or for them? Or is his prayer sufficient for him? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
What is prescribed for the imam when he goes to the mosque is not to rush, but to wait for the ma'mum (those praying behind him), even if he is delayed slightly beyond the usual time; because people may be occupied with matters that prevent them from arriving early. If they are delayed beyond the usual time, and he prays, and then they arrive, it is prescribed for him to pray with them, and it becomes a voluntary prayer for him, just as Mu'adh used to pray 'Isha' with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then return and pray with his companions, and it was a voluntary prayer for him and an obligatory prayer for them. So if he prays with them, may Allah reward him with good. And if someone else leads them, and he does not pray with them, there is no blame on him. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.