The Messenger of Allah ﷺ deferred one night the 'Isya' prayer. And this is called 'Atama. And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not come out till Umar b. Khattab told (him) that the women and children had gone to sleep. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out towards them and said to the people of the mosque: None except you from the people of the earth waits for it (for the night prayer at this late hour), and it was before Islam had spread amongst people. And in the narration transmitted by Ibn Shihab the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is reported to have said: It is not meant that you should compel the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for prayer. And (this he said) when 'Umar b. Khattab called (the Holy Prophet) in a loud voice.  

أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَتْ أَعْتَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيْلَةً مِنَ اللَّيَالِي بِصَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ وَهِيَ الَّتِي تُدْعَى الْعَتَمَةَ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ نَامَ النِّسَاءُ وَالصِّبْيَانُ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ لأَهْلِ الْمَسْجِدِ حِينَ خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا يَنْتَظِرُهَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ غَيْرُكُمْ وَذَلِكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَفْشُوَ الإِسْلاَمُ فِي النَّاسِ زَادَ حَرْمَلَةُ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ وَذُكِرَ لِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ وَمَا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَنْزُرُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى الصَّلاَةِ وَذَاكَ حِينَ صَاحَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ  

It was narrated to me, and that which followed.  

عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ قَوْلَ الزُّهْرِيِّ وَذُكِرَ لِي وَمَا بَعْدَهُ  

The Apostle of Allah ﷺ one night delayed (observing the 'Isya' prayer) till a great part of the night was over and the people in the mosque had gone to sleep. He (the Holy Prophet) then came out and observed prayer and said: This is the proper time for it; were it not that I would impose a burden on my people (I would normally pray at this time). In the hadith transmitters by 'Abd al-Razzaq (the words are):" Were it not that it would impose burden on my people."  

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ وَأَلْفَاظُهُمْ مُتَقَارِبَةٌ قَالُوا جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ حَكِيمٍ عَنْ أُمِّ كُلْثُومٍ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ أَنَّهَا أَخْبَرَتْهُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ أَعْتَمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ عَامَّةُ اللَّيْلِ وَحَتَّى نَامَ أَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَصَلَّى فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ لَوَقْتُهَا لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي وَفِي حَدِيثِ عَبْدِ الرَّزَّاقِ لَوْلاَ أَنْ يَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي  

We waited one night in expectation of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for the last prayer of the night, and he came out to us when a third of the night had passed even after that. We do not know whether he had been occupied with family business or something else. When he came cut he said: You are waiting for prayer, for which the followers of no other religion wait. except you. Were it not a burden for my Ummah, I would have led them (in the 'Isya' prayer) at this hour. He then ordered the Mu'adhdbin (to call for prayer) and then stood up for prayer and observed prayer.  

مَكَثْنَا ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ نَنْتَظِرُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِصَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ الآخِرَةِ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا حِينَ ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ فَلاَ نَدْرِي أَشَىْءٌ شَغَلَهُ فِي أَهْلِهِ أَوْ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ حِينَ خَرَجَ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَنْتَظِرُونَ صَلاَةً مَا يَنْتَظِرُهَا أَهْلُ دِينٍ غَيْرُكُمْ وَلَوْلاَ أَنْ يَثْقُلَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَصَلَّيْتُ بِهِمْ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ الْمُؤَذِّنَ فَأَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ وَصَلَّى  

None among the people of the earth except you waits for prayer in the night.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ شُغِلَ عَنْهَا لَيْلَةً فَأَخَّرَهَا حَتَّى رَقَدْنَا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقَظْنَا ثُمَّ رَقَدْنَا ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقَظْنَا ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ اللَّيْلَةَ يَنْتَظِرُ الصَّلاَةَ غَيْرُكُمْ  

They (the believers) asked Anas about the ring of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he said: One night the Messenger of Allah ﷺ delayed (observing) the 'Isya' prayer up to the midnight or midnight was about to be over. He then came and said: (Other) people have offered prayers and slept, but you are constantly in prayer as long as you wait for prayer. Anas said: I perceive as if I am seeing the lustre of his silver ring, and lifted his, small left finger (in order to show how the Prophet had lifted it).  

عَنْ خَاتَمِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَخَّرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْعِشَاءَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ كَادَ يَذْهَبُ شَطْرُ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ صَلَّوْا وَنَامُوا وَإِنَّكُمْ لَمْ تَزَالُوا فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا انْتَظَرْتُمُ الصَّلاَةَ قَالَ أَنَسٌ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى وَبِيصِ خَاتَمِهِ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَرَفَعَ إِصْبَعَهُ الْيُسْرَى بِالْخِنْصَرِ  

We waited for the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon hi n) one night, till it was about midnight. He (the Holy Prophet) came and observed prayer and then turned his face towards us, as it I was seeing the lustre of the silver ring on his finger.  

نَظَرْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيْلَةً حَتَّى كَانَ قَرِيبٌ مِنْ نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَصَلَّى ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَى وَبِيصِ خَاتَمِهِ فِي يَدِهِ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ  

" He turned his face towards us."  

حَدَّثَنَا قُرَّةُ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ  

I and my companions who had sailed along with me in the boat landed with me in the valley of Buthan while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was staying in Medina. A party of people amongst them went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ every night at the time of the 'Isya' prayer turn by turn. Abu Musa said: (One night) we (I and my companions) went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he was occupied in some matter till there was a delay in prayer so much so that it was the middle of the night. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then came out and led them (Musa's companions) in prayer. And when he had observed his prayer he said to the audience present: Take it easy, I am going to give you information and glad tidings that it is the blessing of Allah upon you for there is none among the people, except you, who prays at this hour (of the night), or he said: None except you observed prayer at this. (late) hour. He (i. e. the narrator) said: I am not sure which of these two sentences he actually uttered. Abu Musa, said: We came back happy for what we heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.  

كُنْتُ أَنَا وَأَصْحَابِي الَّذِينَ قَدِمُوا مَعِي فِي السَّفِينَةِ نُزُولاً فِي بَقِيعِ بُطْحَانَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَكَانَ يَتَنَاوَبُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عِنْدَ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ نَفَرٌ مِنْهُمْ قَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فَوَافَقْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَا وَأَصْحَابِي وَلَهُ بَعْضُ الشُّغُلِ فِي أَمْرِهِ حَتَّى أَعْتَمَ بِالصَّلاَةِ حَتَّى ابْهَارَّ اللَّيْلُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ فَلَمَّا قَضَى صَلاَتَهُ قَالَ لِمَنْ حَضَرَهُ عَلَى رِسْلِكُمْ أُعْلِمُكُمْ وَأَبْشِرُوا أَنَّ مِنْ نِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَحَدٌ يُصَلِّي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ غَيْرُكُمْ أَوْ قَالَ مَا صَلَّى هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُكُمْ لاَ نَدْرِي أَىَّ الْكَلِمَتَيْنِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فَرَجَعْنَا فَرِحِينَ بِمَا سَمِعْنَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

I said to Ata': Which time do you deem fit for me to say the 'Isya' prayer, -as an Imam or alone, -that time which is called by people 'Atama? He said: I heard Ibn 'Abbas saying: The Apostle of Allah ﷺ one night delayed the 'Isya' prayer till the people went to sleep. They woke up and again went to sleep and again woke up. Then 'Umar b. Khattab stood up and said (loudly)" Prayer." Ata' further reported that Ibn 'Abbas said: The Apostle of Allah ﷺ came out, and as if I am still seeing him with water trickling from his head, and with his hand placed on one side of the head, and he said: Were it not hard for my Ummah, I would have ordered them to observe this prayer like this (i. e. at late hours). I inquired from 'Ata' how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ placed his hand upon his head as Ibn Abbas had informed. So Ata' spread his fingers a little and then placed the ends of his fingers on the side of his head. He then moved them like this over his head till the thumb touched that part of the ear which is near the face and then it (went) to the earlock and the part of the heard. It (the bind) neither held nor caught anything but this is how (it moved oil). I said to Ata': Was it mentioned to you (by Ibn Abbas) how long did the Apostle ﷺ delay it (the prayer) during that eight? He said: I do not know (I cannot give you the exact time). Ali' said: I love that I should say prayer, whether as an Imam or alone at delayed hours as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that night, but if It is hard upon you in your individual capacity or upon people in the congregation and you are their Imam, then say prayer ('Isha') at the middle hours neither too early nor too late.  

قُلْتُ لِعَطَاءٍ أَىُّ حِينٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ الْعِشَاءَ الَّتِي يَقُولُهَا النَّاسُ الْعَتَمَةَ إِمَامًا وَخِلْوًا قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ أَعْتَمَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ الْعِشَاءَ قَالَ حَتَّى رَقَدَ نَاسٌ وَاسْتَيْقَظُوا وَرَقَدُوا وَاسْتَيْقَظُوا فَقَامَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَقَالَ الصَّلاَةَ فَقَالَ عَطَاءٌ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَخَرَجَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ الآنَ يَقْطُرُ رَأْسُهُ مَاءً وَاضِعًا يَدَهُ عَلَى شِقِّ رَأْسِهِ قَالَ لَوْلاَ أَنْ يَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لأَمَرْتُهُمْ أَنْ يُصَلُّوهَا كَذَلِكَ قَالَ فَاسْتَثْبَتُّ عَطَاءً كَيْفَ وَضَعَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَدَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ كَمَا أَنْبَأَهُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَبَدَّدَ لِي عَطَاءٌ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ شَيْئًا مِنْ تَبْدِيدٍ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ أَطْرَافَ أَصَابِعِهِ عَلَى قَرْنِ الرَّأْسِ ثُمَّ صَبَّهَا يُمِرُّهَا كَذَلِكَ عَلَى الرَّأْسِ حَتَّى مَسَّتْ إِبْهَامُهُ طَرَفَ الأُذُنِ مِمَّا يَلِي الْوَجْهَ ثُمَّ عَلَى الصُّدْغِ وَنَاحِيَةِ اللِّحْيَةِ لاَ يُقَصِّرُ وَلاَ يَبْطِشُ بِشَىْءٍ إِلاَّ كَذَلِكَ قُلْتُ لِعَطَاءٍ كَمْ ذُكِرَ لَكَ أَخَّرَهَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَيْلَتَئِذٍ قَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي قَالَ عَطَاءٌ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَهَا إِمَامًا وَخِلْوًا مُؤَخَّرَةً كَمَا صَلاَّهَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَيْلَتَئِذٍ فَإِنْ شَقَّ عَلَيْكَ ذَلِكَ خِلْوًا أَوْ عَلَى النَّاسِ فِي الْجَمَاعَةِ وَأَنْتَ إِمَامُهُمْ فَصَلِّهَا وَسَطًا لاَ مُعَجَّلَةً وَلاَ مُؤَخَّرَةً  

Jabir b. Samura reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ postponed the last 'Isha' prayer.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُؤَخِّرُ صَلاَةَ الْعِشَاءِ الآخِرَةِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe prayers like your prayers, but he would delay the prayer after nightfall to a little after the time you observed it, and he would shorten the prayer.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الصَّلَوَاتِ نَحْوًا مِنْ صَلاَتِكُمْ وَكَانَ يُؤَخِّرُ الْعَتَمَةَ بَعْدَ صَلاَتِكُمْ شَيْئًا وَكَانَ يُخِفُّ الصَّلاَةَ وَفِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي كَامِلٍ يُخَفِّفُ  

I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: Let the bedouin not gain upper hand over you in regard to the name of your prayer. See I (The night prayer should be called) 'Isya' (and the bedouins call it Atama (because) they milk their camels late.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لاَ تَغْلِبَنَّكُمُ الأَعْرَابُ عَلَى اسْمِ صَلاَتِكُمْ أَلاَ إِنَّهَا الْعِشَاءُ وَهُمْ يُعْتِمُونَ بِالإِبِلِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Let the bedouin not gain upper band over you In regard to the name of your prayer, i. e. night prayer, for it is mentioned 'Isya' in the Book of Allah (i. e. the Qur'an). (The bedouin call it 'Atama because) they make delay in milling their she-camels.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تَغْلِبَنَّكُمُ الأَعْرَابُ عَلَى اسْمِ صَلاَتِكُمُ الْعِشَاءِ فَإِنَّهَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ الْعِشَاءُ وَإِنَّهَا تُعْتِمُ بِحِلاَبِ الإِبِلِ