Can the imam start the prayer in congregation before the iqamah ends? Is it not necessary for the imam to wait for the iqamah to end?

Dear Brother / Sister,

It is not necessary for the imam to wait for the iqamah to end.  When the muezzin says, "qad qametis-salah", both the imam and the congregation can start the prayer.

A person who enters the mosque while iqamah is called, he sits if the muezzin has not come to the phrase "hayya-ala" and stands up when the muezzin utters this phrase. Therefore, it is regarded makruh to wait by standing.

When the muezzin starts to call the iqamah, the imam and the congregation stand up and start the prayer when he says "hayya alal-falah". All of our three imams agree unanimously on it. This is the sound view. However, if the imam is outside the mosque meanwhile and enters the mosque when the iqamah is called, the rank that he reaches stands up and all ranks will have stood up when he reaches the mihrab. If the imam comes from the front part – if there is an open door there – and enters the mosque, and if the muezzin has come to the phrase "hayya alal-falah", the congregation stand up when they see the imam and start to perform the prayer with the imam. (Shams al-Aimma al-Halwani - Sarakhsi – Sheikh al-Islam Haharzada Abubakr)

If the same person is the imam and the muezzin, the congregation does not stand up until the muezzin finishes the iqamah. If the iqamah is called outside the mosque, in the open part, and if the same person is the imam and the muezzin, the congregation does not stand up until the imam enters the mosque. 

If the muezzin is a different person, when the muezzin says "qad qametis-salah", both the imam and the congregation will start the prayer since they are ready, waiting for the prayer; the imam utters takbir al-iftitah and the congregation follows him. That is the sound view. (Sheikh al-Islam Shams al-Aimma al-Halwani - al-Muhit / Radiyuddin Sarakhsi)

(Celal Yıldırım, Kaynaklarıyla İslam Fıkhı, Uysal Kitabevi: 1/167.)

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