The Ruling on Relying on Calendar Times for the Adhan
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Is the timing currently used in Arab countries for prayer times something one must rely on, or is it up to each individual’s personal judgment based on what he sees?
Answer:
What appears to us is that it is speculative. These timings found in calendars are speculative, based on the judgment of the timekeeper, so he may often err. It may be early by minutes, or late by minutes. But if a person is able to determine the times that are clear, such as the setting of the sun, the appearance of the dawn, and the passing of the sun from its zenith in suitable locations, and if he is able to look into the matter and exercise caution, that is good. Otherwise, they are approximate.
Based on our experience and the experience of others, the general rule is that they are approximate. The timekeeper may be early, for example, regarding the dawn, or other times. He may be early by five or ten minutes, or late by a little. He may be close. In any case, they are speculative, based on their knowledge of astronomy.
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Question: If some people say that they have observed that the dawn begins a quarter of an hour after the time indicated, for example, should their opinion be accepted?
Answer: If they are trustworthy in a specific place and at a specific time, and they are trustworthy, and they say that the dawn appears at the usual time, this is to be considered. Or if the sun has not yet set, and he cannot see it, or if he is in a place where he cannot see the sun, he should wait and accept the statement of the trustworthy person, and not rely on the calendar, if he is in a place where the sun cannot be seen, or ... until the appearance of the dawn.
As for some matters, with electricity in some countries, with the great light of electricity, one cannot see the dawn in his house, or on his roof, or in the market, and he is unable to do so, as in some places due to the presence of dust or clouds. He may not be able to see the sun because of heavy dust or obvious clouds. In such cases, he has only speculation, judgment, and careful investigation.
Is the timing currently used in Arab countries for prayer times something one must rely on, or is it up to each individual’s personal judgment based on what he sees?
Answer:
What appears to us is that it is speculative. These timings found in calendars are speculative, based on the judgment of the timekeeper, so he may often err. It may be early by minutes, or late by minutes. But if a person is able to determine the times that are clear, such as the setting of the sun, the appearance of the dawn, and the passing of the sun from its zenith in suitable locations, and if he is able to look into the matter and exercise caution, that is good. Otherwise, they are approximate.
Based on our experience and the experience of others, the general rule is that they are approximate. The timekeeper may be early, for example, regarding the dawn, or other times. He may be early by five or ten minutes, or late by a little. He may be close. In any case, they are speculative, based on their knowledge of astronomy.
...
Question: If some people say that they have observed that the dawn begins a quarter of an hour after the time indicated, for example, should their opinion be accepted?
Answer: If they are trustworthy in a specific place and at a specific time, and they are trustworthy, and they say that the dawn appears at the usual time, this is to be considered. Or if the sun has not yet set, and he cannot see it, or if he is in a place where he cannot see the sun, he should wait and accept the statement of the trustworthy person, and not rely on the calendar, if he is in a place where the sun cannot be seen, or ... until the appearance of the dawn.
As for some matters, with electricity in some countries, with the great light of electricity, one cannot see the dawn in his house, or on his roof, or in the market, and he is unable to do so, as in some places due to the presence of dust or clouds. He may not be able to see the sun because of heavy dust or obvious clouds. In such cases, he has only speculation, judgment, and careful investigation.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.