501. It’s BETTER to DELAY Salaat Al-Ishaa

By Asma bint Shameem

One of the best deeds a person can do is to pray Salaah on time.

And although *generally speaking*, the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam preferred to pray the other Salaah at the early times, he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam PREFERRED to *DELAY* the Ishaa prayer until one third of the night had passed.

Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said: “The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam stayed late one night until most of the night had gone and the people in the masjid had fallen asleep, then he went out and prayed.

He said, “This would be its time, were it not that this would be difficult for my ummah.” (Muslim 638)

And he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: “Were it not that it would be too hard for my ummah, I would have commanded them to delay ‘Isha’ until one-third of the night had passed, or one half.” (al-Tirmidhi 167; saheeh)

Abu Barzah radhi Allaahu anhu said “The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam *LOVED* to delay the Ishaa” (al-Bukhaari)

And Jaabir radhi Allaahu anhu said regarding the times the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam prayed the Salaah:

“He sometimes delayed Ishaa, and sometimes brought it forward if he saw that they (people) had gathered early.

But if he saw that they were coming late, he would delay it.”

(al-Bukhaari 1/141, Muslim 646)

So it is Sunnah to delay Salaat al-Ishaa until the first third of the night has passed but of course not to delay it beyond its time range, which is midnight.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“The time for Ishaa is until midnight.” (Muslim 964)

As long as you pray Ishaa before midnight, it’s good.

QUESTION

*What about the men and their Jama’ah*?

Delaying Salaatul Ishaa till the first third of the night is very easily possible for *women*.

However for men, it’s *much better* for them to pray Ishaa with the *Jama’ah* in the masjid *WHATEVER time they hold the congregation*.

But if the men are traveling or are praying at home for some reason like they’re sick etc., it would be preferred for them as well, to delay the Ishaa and pray a little later.

Otherwise it’s better for the men to pray in the masjid with the Jama’ah whenever that might be.

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said: “As for men who are not ill, they are to pray with the people in the Masjid.

However, if a man prays at home due to illness, he should pray before midnight and the same applies to the woman.”

(Fatwas of Nur `Ala Al-Darb)

*When is the first third of the night*?

The night starts at Maghrib and ends at Fajr.

So you add the hours from Maghrib until Fajr. Then divide that into three to calculate a third.

So for example these days Maghrib here is at 8:15 pm and Fajr is at 5:30 am.

So that’s 9 hours and 15 minutes total.

Divide that into three to calculate a third.

That is 3 hours and 5 mins.

So if you add 3 hours and 5 minutes to the time of Maghrib (when the night starts), the first third of the night would last till 11:20 pm.

That would be the preferred time to pray Isha.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: “It is better to do the prayer at the time required in sharee’ah.

Hence the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said, answering the one who asked him which deed is most beloved to Allaah, “Prayer done on time.” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

He did not say, prayer at the beginning of its time.

That is because the prayers include some which it is Sunnah to pray *sooner* and some which it is Sunnah to pray *later*.

It is Sunnah to pray ‘Isha’ later, after one-third of the night has passed.

Hence if a woman is at home and asks which is better for me, to pray ‘Ishaa’ when I hear the adhaan or to delay it until one-third of the night has passed?

We say, it is better to delay it until one-third of the night has passed, because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam delayed one night until they said, “O Messenger of Allaah, the women and children have fallen asleep,” so he went out and led them in prayer, and said,

“This would be its time, were that not too difficult for my ummah.”

So if a woman is in her house, it is better for her to DELAY it.

Similarly, if it so happens that some men are TRAVELING , and they ask whether they should pray ‘Ishaa’ sooner or later, we would tell them that it is better for them to DELAY it.

Similarly if a group goes out for a trip and the time for ‘Ishaa’ comes, is it better for them to pray ‘Ishaa’ sooner or later?

AWe say that it is better for them to DELAY it if that will not cause them any hardship.”

(Fataawa Arkaan al-Islam, p. 287)

And Allaah knows best