How Long Should the Interval Between the Adhan and the Iqama Be?

Question

Zayd objects: if the ruling is that the mu’adhdhin should sit between the adhan and the iqama for [a time] equivalent to four rak‘as, and at Maghrib for a short while, then why do the mu’adhdhins in most mosques leave an interval of half an hour between the adhan and the iqama? What is the reason for this, and is it correct? They strictly adhere to this half-hour [interval] and make [others] adhere to it. Kindly explain this in detail and also give references from the books of hadith.

Answer

The hadiths do not set a limit of half an hour; rather, the instruction is that there should be such an interval between the adhan and the iqama that whoever is eating finishes his meal and the like, and whoever has a need finishes relieving himself and the like.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.