When should one offer zuhr salah?

Asalamualaikom, 

I follow the Hanafi school of thought. I live in a city where there is no masjid, just a musallah. There is no fixed time when the jamat occurs for any particular salat, but usually they pray jamat right after the time for the athan for that particular salat. My question is specifically regarding the asr salat. That is, most Muslims in my city pray jamat at the earlier non-Hanafi time for asr. Should I join them in jamat for the risk of praying by myself if I pray at the later Hanafi time? Jazakallah khair.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما

In reference to your question, both opinions regarding when Asr time starts (first shadow and second shadow) have been deemed correct by different scholars in the Hanafi Madhab. Therefore, in such a scenario, it would be better for you to pray with congregation at the earlier time instead of praying alone.

والله اعلم

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.

Approved by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani