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Fatwa CenterValidity of prayer whose Athaan is called before its prescribed time starts
Question
Asalamu alikum We here in Srinagar Kashmir follow a particular salah timing chart. According to that chart, for example, the Asr salah begins at 4:19 and Isha Salah begins at 8:55. But unfortunately, the masjid committee allows the mu'adin to pronounce Adhan at 4:15 for Asr Salah and at 8:45 for Isha Salah. Though we offer salah well after the beginning of the prayer time, that is we offer after 15 minutes of Adhan, I want to ask whether the prayer in which the Adhan is given before the stipulated time while the prayer is offered after the stipulated time is valid or not? Give answer, may Allah reward you!
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and messenger.
The prayer is valid and counts as a sound fulfillment of the obligation if it is performed after the time of the prayer has begun as you mentioned, even if the Athaan for it was called before the beginning of the prescribed time of the prayer.
The validity of the Athaan is not a condition for the validity of the prayer; rather, if you pray without calling the Athaan, the prayer is still valid.
As regards the Athaan itself, it is not valid to call the Athaan before the prayer's prescribed time has started, because it is a condition for the validity of the Athaan that it should be called after the time of the prayer has begun and it is forbidden to call it before that. Ibn Hajar Al-Haythami said in Tuhfat Al-Muhtaaj: “Calling the Athaan before the prescribed time of the prayer has begun is impermissible and invalid according to the consensus of the scholars.”
Also, Ibn Rushd said in Bidaayat Al-Mujtahid: “As regards the time of the Athaan, all the scholars agreed that the Athaan for the prayer is not to be called before its time begins, with the exception of Fajr prayer.” [End of quote]
Moreover, Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughni: “Calling the Athaan before the beginning of the time of the prayer is not valid with the exception of the Athaan of Fajr prayer. We do not know any difference of opinion about this.” Ibn Al-Munthir said: “The scholars agreed in consensus that it is a Sunnah to call the Athaan for the prayer after its time has begun, with the exception of the Fajr prayer. This is because the Athaan is prescribed for announcing the beginning of the time of the prayer, so calling the Athaan is not permissible before the beginning of the time of the prayer, so that its purpose would not be missed.” [End of quote]
According to, Al-Mudawwanah: Imaam Maalik said: "The Athaan is not to be called for any prayer before its time has begun with the exception of Fajr prayer only. This is because the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Indeed, Bilaal calls the Athaan when it is still night, so eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktoom calls the Athaan.’ He said: ‘Ibn Umm Maktoom was a blind man and he did not call the Athaan unless people said to him, it is morning, it is morning’ [i.e. it is time for the Fajr prayer]. Maalik said: ‘It was not reported to us that there was a prayer whose Athaan was called before the beginning of its time except Fajr prayer. The Athaan is not to be called for any other prayer before its time has begun including Friday prayer.’” [End of quote]
Therefore, if someone calls the Athaan before the time of the prayer has begun, he should call the Athaan again when its time starts.
Allaah Knows best.
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