Praying slightly before the fixed time

Question

The imam leads the prayer as he pleases, contrary to the [fixed] time. What is the ruling on this practice? Kindly give a detailed answer in the light of the Qur’an and hadith.

Answer

If the time of the prayer has not yet begun at all, then praying it or leading it is impermissible. If the time has begun, but because of some circumstance the imam led the prayer two to four minutes before the fixed time, and the regular members of the congregation had also already arrived, then there is no harm in it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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