The muʿadhdhin should pronounce the iqāmah when he sees the imām. Jābir ibn Samurah (رضي الله عنه) reported: “Bilāl would pronounce the adhān when the sun declined. However, he would only pronounce the iqāmah when he saw Allāh’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) emerging [from his house]. Once Bilāl saw Allāh’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), he would pronounce the iqāmah.”¹

In another version of this Ḥadīth, Jābir (رضي الله عنه) narrated: “The muʿadhdhin of Allāh’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would pronounce the iqāmah when he saw Allāh’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) emerging [from his house]. Only then would the muʿadhdhin pronounce the iqāmah.”²

The muʿadhdhin may also pronounce the iqāmah once he knows that the imām can hear it, although the muʿadhdhin cannot see the imām. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “If the iqāmah was pronounced, do not stand until you see me.”³ This Ḥadīth suggests that the iqāmah was pronounced occasionally in the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) absence; however, because the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) house was adjacent to his masjid, he could easily hear the iqāmah.

Ibn Ḥajar (رحمه الله) stated: “This Ḥadīth proves that the iqāmah can be pronounced once the imām can hear it, even if he is in his house.”⁴

As for standing to commence the prayer, then two scenarios exists:

Scenario 1: The Imām Was Absent before the Iqāmah Was Pronounced

In this scenario, the congregation must stand when they see the imām, even if he arrives after the iqāmah was completed.

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “If the iqāmah was pronounced, do not stand until you see me.”⁵

Scenario 2: The Imām Was Present before the Iqāmah Was Pronounced

The scholars dispute this scenario. Some say the congregation should stand at the beginning of the iqāmah since we were commanded to hasten to do good deeds. Allāh said:

فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ

“Compete with each other to do good.”
[Al-Baqarah, 2:148]

Other scholars say the congregation should stand when the muʿadhdhin says: “The prayer has been established” since it was reported that “When Bilāl would say: ‘The prayer has been established,’ the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would stand”⁶ and that Some of the Companions, like Anas (رضي الله عنه), practiced this; however, the report is defective⁷.

Other scholars hold a third opinion; however, most scholars say the issue is flexible, meaning the congregation can stand whenever they like once they catch the opening takbīr for the prayer. This opinion seems to be the most accurate one since there are no authentic reports establishing a fixed time to stand in this circumstance.

Regardless, in this scenario, the congregation should form the rows before the imām assumes his place in front of them.

Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported: “When the iqāmah was pronounced for Allāh’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), the people occupied their places in the rows before Allāh’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) assumed his place.”⁸

Endnotes:
[1] Reported by Muslim (160) with this wording.
[2] Reported by Al-Tirmidhī (202) with this wording, and Shaykh Al-Albānī authenticated it.
[3] Reported by Al-Bukhārī (637, 638) and Muslim (156).
[4] Fatḥ al-Bārī, vol. 2, pg. 120.
[5] Reported by Al-Bukhārī (637, 638) and Muslim (156).
[6] See Sunnah Al-Bayhaqī (2330).
[7] See Silsilah al-Aḥādith al-Ḍaʿīfah, vol. 9, pg.224 and Sunnah Al-Bayhaqī (2330).
[8] Reported by Muslim (605).