Is it permissible for the Imam of the mosque to wait for a specific worshiper after the iqama to begin the prayer upon his arrival?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
There should not be a long interval between the Iqama and the beginning of the prayer. The Imam should not wait after the Iqama except for a short, customarily accepted period, based on the of Anas ibn Malik, narrated by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad and his , that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was detained after the Iqama for prayer to attend to the need of a Bedouin, and then he prayed. In this situation, the Iqama is not repeated.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/187420
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- 187420
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