Is the Adhan a Condition for Iftar (Breaking the Fast)?

Question

Does the time of iftar in Ramadan or on other fasting days depend on sunset or on the adhan for the Maghrib prayer? Some people do not break their fast even after the sun has set, considering the adhan to be an obligatory condition for doing so. Is this correct?

Answer

The time of iftar begins immediately once the fact of sunset becomes evident; it does not depend on the adhan. However, people generally cannot determine the exact moment of sunset on their own, or the adhan is called precisely at the time of sunset — which is why many have grown accustomed to using the adhan as a reference for breaking their fast.

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