When Should the Imam Begin the Prayer

Question

At what moment should the imam say the takbir al-tahrima, that is, begin the prayer? What is the ruling according to the Book and the Sunna?

Answer

On this [question] there is the view that at the words “qad qamati’s-salah” (قد قامت الصلاة) the imam begins the prayer, and all the muqtadis also begin, following him. The second view is that both the imam and the muqtadis begin when the iqama is finished. No rigidity should be adopted in this: both views are mentioned in al-Durr al-Mukhtar and Shami.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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