What is the duration of time that should be between the Adhan and the establishment of prayer?
The jurists divided people into two categories regarding performing prayers early or late: the individual and the congregation. For the individual, it is best to pray at the very beginning of the prayer time, based on the hadith of Umm Farwah, "Prayer is at the beginning of its time." As for the congregation, the prayer is delayed for as long as people usually gather, provided that this does not lead to the expiration of the optional prayer time. This is based on the hadith of Jabir regarding the Prophet (peace be upon him) delaying the Isha prayer if he saw them slow (in gathering), and hastening it if he saw them gathered. It is also Sunnah to delay the Dhuhr prayer during intense heat, based on the hadith of Anas, "When it was very cold, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would pray early, and when it was very hot, he would delay the prayer."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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