The Imam arrived after the prayer started and took the lead, is this correct?

Answered by Shaykh Salih Fawzan

Question: He says he prayed Isha prayer in one of the Masjids, O Shaykh.

After the call was given to start the prayer the Muadhin went forth and
recited Al-Fatihah. Then someone came from the direction of the prayer
niche, and it appeared as though he was the resident Imam. So, the Muadhin
stepped back and the person who entered from the prayer niche lead the
people in prayer.

Shaykh Salih Fawzan: If the person who went forward—and put the
Muadhin back; if he was the resident Imam then there is no problem with
this. This occurred with the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬and Abu Bakr ‫رضي هللا تعالى عنه‬.

The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬was late so Abu Bakr lead the people in prayer. Then the
Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬arrived so Abu Bakr wanted to step back but the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬
motioned for him to remain in his place. Then the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬came and sat on
the left side of Abu Bakr. The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬began to lead the people in prayer
while Abu Bakr would repeat the Takbir after him so the people could hear.

Therefore, this is evidence that there is no problem if the (resident) Imam

arrives during the prayer and enters the prayer as the prayer leader. The
person that was leading the prayer before he arrived can either step back and
join the congregation or he can remain in his place and repeat the Takbirs
after the Imam if the voice of the Imam cannot be heard by the people.
Translated by Rasheed ibn Estes Barbee