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Is it permissible for worshipers to perform the prayer without waiting for the imam who delays it past its time and does not adhere to the timing specified by the Ministry, especially in Ramadan at iftar time?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

If the agreed-upon time for the Adhan with the Ministry aligns with the actual time, then it is not permissible for the Imam to instruct the Muezzin to call the Adhan before its time. However, if it becomes clear that the Ministry's Adhan is early or late due to a difference between the two countries (or locations), then there is no objection to advancing or delaying it.

Delaying the prayer from its earliest time is not recommended. If the time for congregational prayer arrives and the Imam is not present, then if the mosque does not have a designated Imam, one of the congregants should be put forward to lead them in prayer. If it does have a designated Imam, and he is nearby, someone should be sent to inquire about him so he can attend or grant permission for someone else to lead them. If he is far away or not found in his place, and if it is known from his character that he would not be offended by someone else leading the prayer, then it is recommended that one of them steps forward and leads them in prayer to preserve the earliest time for prayer. It is preferable that the one most deserving of leading the prayer and most beloved to the Imam steps forward. However, if they fear his displeasure or a tribulation, they should wait for the Imam.

A delay of fifteen minutes or close to it is considered short, so it is appropriate to wait for the Imam until he arrives. It is advisable to discuss with the Imam and agree with him on a time that satisfies everyone or most of the congregants.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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