Calling out the Adhaan Immediately after Subh Saadiq

Q: Salaah-646: The Adhaan here in our town is called out just five minutes after Subh Saadiq even though some people dislike that it be called out even ten minutes afterwards. What is the ruling concerning this?

Answer: Because there is a discrepancy between the actual times and calendar times, caution must be exercised. If ten minutes cannot be allowed, then at least seven minutes should. The calendars even state that the time tables may not be relied on to the last minute because there may be an error in calculations.

Similarly, the clocks may also be a little ahead or behind time. The following precautions are therefore necessary

1. Regard the time of Subh Saadiq to be at least ten minutes earlier so that you understand this to be the final time for Sehri
2.The Fajr Adhaan should be called out only five (better ten) minutes after the stated ,time of Subh Saadiq Complete the Fajr salaah at least five minutes before the stated time of sunrise
4. Call out the Asr Adhaan five minutes after the stated earliest time for Asr
5. Call out the Maghrib Adhaan at least five minutes after the stated time of sunset
6. Call out the Isha Adhaan five (better ten) minutes after the stated earliest time for Isha

Although it is correct to call out the Fajr Adhan immediately after Subh Saadiq sets in, it is very difficult to determine the exact time. Furthermore, there is always the possibility of error in the time tables and the possibility of the clocks being too fast or slow. One should therefore stop eating Sehri at least ten minutes before the stated times and call out the Fajr Adhaan at least ten minutes after the stated time. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2