We are some Pakistani students (more than 30 at least) here studying in Malaysia for different period of time (1-3 years). As you must be already aware that Asr azan is given on start of mithl awwal (about 5.00 pm) and after 10 minutes jamah starts, while Asr time starts at about 6.00 pm according to Hanafi. The question as follows: (1) Should we pray with this jamah although the time of Asr is not entered according to Hanafi? (2) If some Hanafi is leading the jamah as Imam? (3) If we are there in the masjid and someone asks us to be Imam should we? Kindly guide us according to the holy Quran and sunnah, because if we pray before Hanafi time, we might miss the salah, and if we pray at Hanafi time we miss jamah.
Answer
(Fatwa: 660/565/B=1433)
(1) If you thirty persons can offer Asr salah at two mithl by arranging your separate jama’ah then you should offer it at two mithl. But if you fear chaos in establishing your separate jama’ah then offer Asr salah behind them at one mithl. According to one opinion, the time of Asr starts at one mithl according to Ahnaf as well. The salah of Hanafi shall be valid on one mithl.
(2) If any Hanafi leads salah on one mithl then too the Asr salah shall be valid.
(3) You may do Imamah as well.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband