Answered by: Maulana Imran Mughal
Question
Assalamualaikom
Today in Birmingham sunset time was 8.09pm azan was prayed. But our Imam said it should be 5 minutes later. Please let me know which is the correct.
Answer
Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh
Generally, when the time for sunset is a certain time, the Imam, committee of the masjid or those that issue the calendar would delay it a few minutes (most of the times 5 minutes) just to be safe.
Allamah Ibn Abidin writes in his Fatawa: “It is a condition for the validity of the prayer for the time to enter and to have complete trust that it has entered.”[1]
And Allah SWT alone knows best.
Answered by Maulana Imran Mughal
Checked and approved Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham