The Muezzin of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to delay the Iqāmah until he would see the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) coming out. On seeing him, he would pronounce the Iqāmah
Chapter: What Has Been Related That The Imam Has be Greatest Right To The Iqamah
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، أَخْبَرَنِي سِمَاكُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، سَمِعَ جَابِرَ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ، يَقُولُ كَانَ مُؤَذِّنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُمْهِلُ فَلاَ يُقِيمُ حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
قَدْ خَرَجَ أَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ حِينَ يَرَاهُ
Jābir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Muezzin of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to delay the Iqāmah until he would see the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) coming out. On seeing him, he would pronounce the Iqāmah.
Reported by At-Tirmidhi (No. 202), Muslim (No. 606), Abu Dawud (No. 537) and Ahmad (No. 19874, 19891, 19933, 19934, 20090, 20093, 20099).
The Hadīth indicates that the Imām is the one who has the right to decide the timing of the Iqāmah, since the Muezzin used to delay it until the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would come out.
Explanation in Arabic
يبين الحديث أن من له الحق في تحديد الإقامة الإمام؛ لأن المؤذن لم يكن يقيم إلا إذا خرج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم .
الحديث يدل على أن مؤذن رسول الله -صلى الله عليه و سلم- كان لا يقيم إلا بعد أن يراه.