What is the ruling on congregational prayer in a mosque that prays immediately after the Adhan, neglecting the regular Sunnah prayers, and to which worshippers arrive in groups one after another until the end of the prayer time? Is it permissible for some worshippers to delay the prayer in order to catch the later congregations? And is it permissible to pray in a distant mosque for the purpose of leaving prayer early instead of praying in the nearby mosque?

Initiating the prayer immediately after the Adhan is contrary to the Sunnah, which prescribes waiting for people to prepare for the prayer, as the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Bilal: "Make a space between your Adhan and your Iqamah equivalent to the time it takes for an eater to finish his meal..." What this Imam is doing is contrary to the Sunnah and a cause for multiple congregations. He should be advised gently. Praying with the first congregation is more preferable than praying with subsequent congregations. If there is a mosque that waits between the Adhan and the Iqamah, then praying there is more preferable.