The Dynamics of Adhan Time Management in the Baiturrahim Mosque Community in the Perspective of Fiqh Worship

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine the dynamics of Asr adhan time management at Baiturrahim Mosque in Tegalkubur Hamlet, Yamansari Village, Tegal Regency, and analyze the religious, institutional, and social considerations underlying the postponement of the adhan from its officially calculated starting time. Specifically, the study investigates how mosque administrators and Islamic boarding school authorities reconcile congregational prayer schedules with educational activities within the framework of Islamic jurisprudence on worship (fiqh al-'ibadah).

Research Approach and Method: This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach using field interviews and a comparative literature review. Primary data were obtained through interviews with Islamic boarding school administrators, local residents, and pesantren alumni, while secondary data were collected from Islamic jurisprudential literature and previous studies on delayed prayer calls in Javanese Muslim communities. Data were analyzed through reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing, with particular attention to the concepts of 'urf, maslahah, and Imam An-Nawawi's classification of Asr prayer times.

Findings: The findings reveal that the Asr adhan at Baiturrahim Mosque is intentionally delayed until 16:20–16:40 WIB to accommodate Qur'anic learning and afternoon madrasah activities at the Miftahul Mubtadiin Al-Umry Islamic Boarding School. This arrangement enables students and local residents to perform congregational prayers together. Unlike similar practices in other Javanese communities, which are predominantly influenced by agricultural routines, the postponement at Baiturrahim Mosque is primarily driven by institutional and educational considerations. From the perspective of fiqh al-'ibadah, the delayed adhan does not invalidate the prayer because its performance remains within the prescribed Asr period.

Research Limitations and Implications: As a qualitative case study focusing on a single mosque community, the findings are context-specific and cannot be generalized to all Muslim communities. Nevertheless, the study contributes to Islamic jurisprudence and mosque management scholarship by demonstrating how religious practices are negotiated within local institutional arrangements while maintaining compliance with established prayer-time boundaries.

Practical Implications: The findings provide considerations for mosque administrators, Islamic boarding school authorities, and religious leaders in developing prayer schedules that accommodate educational activities and congregational participation without compromising the validity of worship. Effective coordination between mosque management and educational institutions is essential for maintaining religious observance and institutional harmony.

Social Implications: The study highlights the role of mosque–pesantren collaboration in strengthening communal solidarity, religious participation, and social cohesion. Context-sensitive worship management can facilitate collective religious practices while responding to the educational and social circumstances of local Muslim communities.

Originality/Value: The originality of this study lies in identifying an institutionally driven pattern of Asr adhan postponement within a pesantren-based mosque community, contrasting with previous studies emphasizing agricultural and occupational considerations. By integrating mosque management practices with the jurisprudential concepts of 'urf, maslahah, and classifications of prayer time, this study offers a contextual understanding of the relationship between Islamic legal flexibility, religious education, and congregational worship