"Jibril came down and led the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in prayer." 'Umar said: "Watch what you are saying, O 'Urwah!" He said: "I heard Bashir bin Abi Mas'ud say: 'I heard Abu Mas'ud say: "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: 'Jibril came down and led me in prayer, and I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him - and he counted off five prayers on his fingers.'"  

لَهُ عُرْوَةُ أَمَا إِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قَدْ نَزَلَ فَصَلَّى أَمَامَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ اعْلَمْ مَا تَقُولُ يَا عُرْوَةُ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ بَشِيرَ بْنَ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ نَزَلَ جِبْرِيلُ فَأَمَّنِي فَصَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ يَحْسُبُ بِأَصَابِعِهِ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ  

"Sayyar bin Salamah, narrated to us, he said: 'I heard my father ask Abu Barzah about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' I said: 'Did you really hear him?' He said: 'As I can hear you now.' He said: 'I heard my father ask about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' He said: 'He would not mind if he delayed it - meaning 'Isha' until midnight, and he did not like to sleep before it or speak after it.'" Shu'bah said: "Then I met him later on and asked him. He said: 'He used to pray Zauhr when the sun had passed its zenith, and (he would pray) 'Asr and a man could walk to the farthest point in Al-Madinah and the sun would still be clear and hot. And Maghrib, I do not know the time he mentioned.' After that I met him and asked him, and he said: 'He used to pray Fajr then after the prayer a man could regarding it, sitting next to him, look at the face of someone he knew and he could recognize it.' He said: 'And he used to recite in it between sixty and one hundred (verses).'"  

عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قُلْتُ أَنْتَ سَمِعْتَهُ قَالَ كَمَا أَسْمَعُكَ السَّاعَةَ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَسْأَلُ عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ كَانَ لاَ يُبَالِي بَعْضَ تَأْخِيرِهَا يَعْنِي الْعِشَاءَ إِلَى نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ وَلاَ يُحِبُّ النَّوْمَ قَبْلَهَا وَلاَ الْحَدِيثَ بَعْدَهَا قَالَ شُعْبَةُ ثُمَّ لَقِيتُهُ بَعْدُ فَسَأَلْتُهُ قَالَ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ حِينَ تَزُولُ الشَّمْسُ وَالْعَصْرَ يَذْهَبُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَالشَّمْسُ حَيَّةٌ وَالْمَغْرِبَ لاَ أَدْرِي أَىَّ حِينٍ ذَكَرَ ثُمَّ لَقِيتُهُ بَعْدُ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي الصُّبْحَ فَيَنْصَرِفُ الرَّجُلُ فَيَنْظُرُ إِلَى وَجْهِ جَلِيسِهِ الَّذِي يَعْرِفُهُ فَيَعْرِفُهُ قَالَ وَكَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِيهَا بِالسِّتِّينَ إِلَى الْمِائَةِ  

"Anas told me that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out when the sun had passed its zenith, and led them in Zuhr prayer."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَرَجَ حِينَ زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ صَلاَةَ الظُّهْرِ  

"We complained to the Messenger of Alalh ﷺ about how hot the sand was, but he did not respond to our complaint." It was said to Abu Ishaq (one of the narrators): "Did they complain regarding his praying it early?" He said: "Yes."  

شَكَوْنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَرَّ الرَّمْضَاءِ فَلَمْ يُشْكِنَا قِيلَ لأَبِي إِسْحَاقَ فِي تَعْجِيلِهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ  

"I heard Anas bin Malik say: 'When the Prophet ﷺ halted, he would not move on until he had prayed Zuhr.' A man said: 'Even if it was the middle of the day?' He said: 'Even if it was the middle of the day.'"  

سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِذَا نَزَلَ مَنْزِلاً لَمْ يَرْتَحِلْ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَ الظُّهْرَ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ بِنِصْفِ النَّهَارِ قَالَ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ بِنِصْفِ النَّهَارِ  

"I heard Anas bin Malik say: 'When it was hot, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would wait until it cooled down to pray, and when it was cold he would hasten to pray.'"  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا كَانَ الْحَرُّ أَبْرَدَ بِالصَّلاَةِ وَإِذَا كَانَ الْبَرْدُ عَجَّلَ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'If it is very hot, wait until it cools down before you pray, for intense heat is a breeze from Hell.'"  

إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا اشْتَدَّ الْحَرُّ فَأَبْرِدُوا عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّ شِدَّةَ الْحَرِّ مِنْ فَيْحِ جَهَنَّمَ  

"Wait until it cools down to pray Zuhr, for the heat you experience is a breeze from Hell." [1] Meaning he attributed it to the Prophet ﷺ.  

أَبْرِدُوا بِالظُّهْرِ فَإِنَّ الَّذِي تَجِدُونَ مِنَ الْحَرِّ مِنْ فَيْحِ جَهَنَّمَ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: This is 'Jibril, peace be upon you, he came to teach you your religion. He prayed Subh when the dawn appeared, and he prayed Zuhr when the sun had (passed its zenith), and he prayed 'Asr when he saw that the shadow of a thing was equal to its height, then he prayed Maghrib when the sub had set and it is permissible for the fasting person to eat. Then he prayed 'Isha' when the twilight had disappeared. Then he came to him the following day and prayed Subh when it had got a little lighter, then he prayed Zuhr when the shadow of a thing was equal to its height, then he prayed 'Asr when the shadow of a thing was equal to twice its height, then he prayed Maghrib at the same time as before, then he prayed 'Isha' when a short period of the night had passed. Then he said: 'The prayer is between the times when you prayed yesterday and the times when you prayed today.'"  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ هَذَا جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ جَاءَكُمْ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ دِينَكُمْ فَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ حِينَ طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ وَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ حِينَ زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ حِينَ رَأَى الظِّلَّ مِثْلَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَحَلَّ فِطْرُ الصَّائِمِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ حِينَ ذَهَبَ شَفَقُ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ الْغَدَ فَصَلَّى بِهِ الصُّبْحَ حِينَ أَسْفَرَ قَلِيلاً ثُمَّ صَلَّى بِهِ الظُّهْرَ حِينَ كَانَ الظِّلُّ مِثْلَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ حِينَ كَانَ الظِّلُّ مِثْلَيْهِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ بِوَقْتٍ وَاحِدٍ حِينَ غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَحَلَّ فِطْرُ الصَّائِمِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ حِينَ ذَهَبَ سَاعَةٌ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ مَا بَيْنَ صَلاَتِكَ أَمْسِ وَصَلاَتِكَ الْيَوْمَ  

"The Prophet ﷺ prayed Zuhr when the length of (a person's shadow) was between three and five feet in summer, and between five and seven feet in winter."  

كَانَ قَدْرُ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ الظُّهْرَ فِي الصَّيْفِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَقْدَامٍ إِلَى خَمْسَةِ أَقْدَامٍ وَفِي الشِّتَاءِ خَمْسَةَ أَقْدَامٍ إِلَى سَبْعَةِ أَقْدَامٍ  

"A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the times of prayer. He said: 'Pray with me.' So he prayed Zuhr when the sun had passsed its zenith, 'Asr when the shadow of a thing was equal to its height, Maghrib when the sun had set and 'Isha' when the twilight had disappeared." He said: "Then he prayed Zuhr when the shadow of a man was equal in length to his height, 'Asr when the length of a man's shadow was twice his height, and Maghrib just before the twilight disappeared." (One of the narrators) 'Abdullah bin Al-Harith said: "then he said: 'With regard to 'Isha' I think it is up to one-third of the night.'" [1] [1] The speaker there is Thawr, who narrated it from 'Ata' from Jabir.  

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ مَوَاقِيتِ الصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ صَلِّ مَعِي فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ حِينَ زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَالْعَصْرَ حِينَ كَانَ فَىْءُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مِثْلَهُ وَالْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَالْعِشَاءَ حِينَ غَابَ الشَّفَقُ قَالَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الظُّهْرَ حِينَ كَانَ فَىْءُ الإِنْسَانِ مِثْلَهُ وَالْعَصْرَ حِينَ كَانَ فَىْءُ الإِنْسَانِ مِثْلَيْهِ وَالْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ كَانَ قُبَيْلَ غَيْبُوبَةِ الشَّفَقِ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي الْعِشَاءِ أُرَى إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ  

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed 'Asr when the sun was in her room and the shadow had not appeared on her wall.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلَّى صَلاَةَ الْعَصْرِ وَالشَّمْسُ فِي حُجْرَتِهَا لَمْ يَظْهَرِ الْفَىْءُ مِنْ حُجْرَتِهَا  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray 'Asr, then a person could go to Quba'." One of them [1] said: "And he would come to them when they were prayed." The other said: "And the sub was still high." [1] Both Az-Zuhri and Ishaq bin 'Abdullah narrated it from Anas, so the reference is about them.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ يَذْهَبُ الذَّاهِبُ إِلَى قُبَاءٍ فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا فَيَأْتِيهِمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ وَقَالَ الآخَرُ وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray 'Asr when the sun was still high and bright, and a person could go to Al-'Awali [1] when the sun was still high." [1] Al-'Awali is the southern most district of Al-Madinah, and it is very big. Its nearest limit is at a distance of about two miles from the center of Al-Madinah. While its furthest limit is about eight miles.  

أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ حَيَّةٌ وَيَذْهَبُ الذَّاهِبُ إِلَى الْعَوَالِي وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to lead us in 'Asr prayer when the sun was still bright and high."  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي بِنَا الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ بَيْضَاءُ مُحَلِّقَةٌ  

"I heard Abu Umamah bin Sahl say: 'We prayed Zuhr with 'Umar bin 'Abdul-'Aziz, then we went out and entered upon Anas bin Malik, and we found him praying 'Asr.'" I said: "O uncle, what is this prayer that you prayed?" He said: "'Asr; this is the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that we used to pray with him."  

الْعَصْرَ وَهَذِهِ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ الَّتِي كُنَّا نُصَلِّي  

"We prayed at the time of 'Umar bin 'Abdul-'Aziz, then we went to Anas bin Malik and found him praying. when he finished he said to us: 'Have you prayed?' We said: 'We prayed Zuhr.' He said: 'I prayed 'Asr.' They said: 'You have prayed early.' He said: 'Rather I prayed as I saw my companions pray.'"  

لَنَا أَصَلَّيْتُمْ قُلْنَا صَلَّيْنَا الظُّهْرَ قَالَ إِنِّي صَلَّيْتُ الْعَصْرَ فَقَالُوا لَهُ عَجَّلْتَ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا أُصَلِّي كَمَا رَأَيْتُ أَصْحَابِي يُصَلُّونَ  

'Have you prayed 'Asr?' We said: 'No, we have just finished Zuhr.' He said: 'Pray 'Asr.' So we got up and prayed, and when we finished he said: 'I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: "That is the prayer of the hypocrite: he sits and delays 'Asr prayer until (the sun) is between the horns of the Shaitan, then he gets up and pecks four (Rak'ahs) in which he only remembers Allah a little.'"  

أَصَلَّيْتُمُ الْعَصْرَ قُلْنَا لاَ إِنَّمَا انْصَرَفْنَا السَّاعَةَ مِنَ الظُّهْرِ قَالَ فَصَلُّوا الْعَصْرَ قَالَ فَقُمْنَا فَصَلَّيْنَا فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفْنَا قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ تِلْكَ صَلاَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ جَلَسَ يَرْقُبُ صَلاَةَ الْعَصْرِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتْ بَيْنَ قَرْنَىِ الشَّيْطَانِ قَامَ فَنَقَرَ أَرْبَعًا لاَ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ ﷻ فِيهَا إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً  

"The one who misses 'Asr prayer, it is as if he has been robbed of his family and his wealth." It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The one who misses 'Asr prayer, it is as if he has been robbed of his family and his wealth."  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ الَّذِي تَفُوتُهُ صَلاَةُ الْعَصْرِ فَكَأَنَّمَا وُتِرَ أَهْلَهُ وَمَالَهُ أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ عَنْ مَالِكٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ؓ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ الَّذِي تَفُوتُهُ صَلاَةُ الْعَصْرِ فَكَأَنَّمَا وُتِرَ أَهْلَهُ وَمَالَهُ  

' The time between these two is the time for prayer.'" [1] Meaning Fajr, the morning prayer. [2] The Fajr prayer was elongated because the Prophet recited at length during the prayer, so that it ended just before sunrise. That defined the end of the time for Fajr, as the beginning of the time was defined by the moment when he started the first Rak'ah.  

أَنَّ جِبْرِيلَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُهُ مَوَاقِيتَ الصَّلاَةِ فَتَقَدَّمَ جِبْرِيلُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَلْفَهُ وَالنَّاسُ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ حِينَ زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَأَتَاهُ حِينَ كَانَ الظِّلُّ مِثْلَ شَخْصِهِ فَصَنَعَ كَمَا صَنَعَ فَتَقَدَّمَ جِبْرِيلُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَلْفَهُ وَالنَّاسُ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ حِينَ وَجَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَتَقَدَّمَ جِبْرِيلُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَلْفَهُ وَالنَّاسُ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ حِينَ غَابَ الشَّفَقُ فَتَقَدَّمَ جِبْرِيلُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَلْفَهُ وَالنَّاسُ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ حِينَ انْشَقَّ الْفَجْرُ فَتَقَدَّمَ جِبْرِيلُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَلْفَهُ وَالنَّاسُ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى الْغَدَاةَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الْيَوْمَ الثَّانِيَ حِينَ كَانَ ظِلُّ الرَّجُلِ مِثْلَ شَخْصِهِ فَصَنَعَ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعَ بِالأَمْسِ فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ حِينَ كَانَ ظِلُّ الرَّجُلِ مِثْلَ شَخْصَيْهِ فَصَنَعَ كَمَا صَنَعَ بِالأَمْسِ فَصَلَّى الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ حِينَ وَجَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَصَنَعَ كَمَا صَنَعَ بِالأَمْسِ فَصَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ فَنِمْنَا ثُمَّ قُمْنَا ثُمَّ نِمْنَا ثُمَّ قُمْنَا فَأَتَاهُ فَصَنَعَ كَمَا صَنَعَ بِالأَمْسِ فَصَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ حِينَ امْتَدَّ الْفَجْرُ وَأَصْبَحَ وَالنُّجُومُ بَادِيَةٌ مُشْتَبِكَةٌ فَصَنَعَ كَمَا صَنَعَ بِالأَمْسِ فَصَلَّى الْغَدَاةَ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا بَيْنَ هَاتَيْنِ الصَّلاَتَيْنِ وَقْتٌ  

"Whoever catches up with two Rak'ahs of 'Asr prayer before the sun sets, or one Rak'ah of the Subh prayer before the sun rises, has caught it."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ أَدْرَكَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ أَوْ رَكْعَةً مِنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ  

"Whoever catches up with one Rak'ah of 'Asr prayer before the sun sets, or catches up with one Rak'ah of Fajr before the sun rises, has caught it."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ أَدْرَكَ رَكْعَةً مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَغِيبَ الشَّمْسُ أَوْ أَدْرَكَ رَكْعَةً مِنَ الْفَجْرِ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ  

"If any one of you catches the first prostration of 'Asr prayer before the sun sets, let him complete his prayer, and if he catches up with the first prostration of Fajr prayer before the sub rises, let him complete his prayer."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا أَدْرَكَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَوَّلَ سَجْدَةٍ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَلاَتَهُ وَإِذَا أَدْرَكَ أَوَّلَ سَجْدَةٍ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَلاَتَهُ  

"Whoever catches up with a Rak'ah of the Subh prayer before the sun rises, then he has caught up with Subh, and whoever catches up with a Rak'ah of 'Asr prayer before the sun sets, then he has caught up with 'Asr."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ أَدْرَكَ رَكْعَةً مِنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ الصُّبْحَ وَمَنْ أَدْرَكَ رَكْعَةً مِنَ الْعَصْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ الْعَصْرَ  

'Are you not going to pray?' He said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'There is no prayer after 'Asr until the sun has set, nor after Subh until the sun has risen.'"  

إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ صَلاَةَ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ حَتَّى تَغِيبَ الشَّمْسُ وَلاَ بَعْدَ الصُّبْحِ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ  

"A man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and asked him about the times of prayer. He said: 'Stay with us for these two days.' Then he told Bilal to say the Iqamah at dawn and he prayed Fajr. Then he told him to do that when the sun had passed its zenith and he prayed Zuhr. Then he told him to do that when the sun was still bright, and he said the Iqamah for 'Asr. Then he told him to do that when the last part of the sun had dissapeared, and he said the Iqamah for Maghrib. Then he told him to do that when the twilight had disappeared and he said the Iqamah for 'Isha'. The following day, he prayed Fajr when there was light, then he delayed Zuhr until it was cooler, and waited until it was much cooler before praying 'Asr but the sun was still clear, so he prayed 'Asr later than on the first day. Then he prayed Maghrib before the twilight disappeared. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for 'Isha' when one-third of the night had passed, and he prayed, then he said: 'Where is the one who was asking about the times of prayer? The times of your prayer are between the times you have seen.'"  

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ وَقْتِ الصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ أَقِمْ مَعَنَا هَذَيْنِ الْيَوْمَيْنِ فَأَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ عِنْدَ الْفَجْرِ فَصَلَّى الْفَجْرَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ حِينَ زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ حِينَ رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَيْضَاءَ فَأَقَامَ الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ حِينَ وَقَعَ حَاجِبُ الشَّمْسِ فَأَقَامَ الْمَغْرِبَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ حِينَ غَابَ الشَّفَقُ فَأَقَامَ الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ مِنَ الْغَدِ فَنَوَّرَ بِالْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَبْرَدَ بِالظُّهْرِ وَأَنْعَمَ أَنْ يُبْرِدَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ بَيْضَاءُ وَأَخَّرَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَغِيبَ الشَّفَقُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ الْعِشَاءَ حِينَ ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلاَّهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيْنَ السَّائِلُ عَنْ وَقْتِ الصَّلاَةِ وَقْتُ صَلاَتِكُمْ مَا بَيْنَ مَا رَأَيْتُمْ  

It was narrated from a man of Aslam, who was one of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, that they used to pray Maghrib with the Prophet ﷺ,then they would go back to their families in the furthest part of Al-Madinah, shooting arrows and seeing where they landed. [1] [1] Because it was still bright enough.  

عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَسْلَمَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُصَلُّونَ مَعَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَغْرِبَ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُونَ إِلَى أَهَالِيهِمْ إِلَى أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ يَرْمُونَ وَيُبْصِرُونَ مَوَاقِعَ سِهَامِهِمْ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in praying 'Asr in Al-Mukhammas. He said: 'This prayer was enjoined upon those who came before you, but they neglected it. Whoever prays it regularly will have a two-fold reward, and there is no prayer after it until the Shahid appears." And the Shahid is "the star." [1] [1] This is a statement of one of the narrators, and Allah knows best.  

صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْعَصْرَ بِالْمُخَمَّصِ قَالَ إِنَّ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةَ عُرِضَتْ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ فَضَيَّعُوهَا وَمَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا كَانَ لَهُ أَجْرُهُ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَلاَ صَلاَةَ بَعْدَهَا حَتَّى يَطْلُعَ الشَّاهِدُ وَالشَّاهِدُ النَّجْمُ  

"Sometimes he (Qatadah, his teacher) narrated it as a Marfu' report and sometimes he did not" - "The time for Zuhr prayer is until 'Asr comes, and the time for 'Asr prayer is until the sun turns yellow. the time for Maghrib is until the twilight disappears, and the time for 'Isha' is until the night is halfway through, and the time for Subh is until the sun rises."  

شُعْبَةُ كَانَ قَتَادَةُ يَرْفَعُهُ أَحْيَانًا وَأَحْيَانًا لاَ يَرْفَعُهُ قَالَ وَقْتُ صَلاَةِ الظُّهْرِ مَا لَمْ تَحْضُرِ الْعَصْرُ وَوَقْتُ صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ مَا لَمْ تَصْفَرَّ الشَّمْسُ وَوَقْتُ الْمَغْرِبِ مَا لَمْ يَسْقُطْ ثَوْرُ الشَّفَقِ وَوَقْتُ الْعِشَاءِ مَا لَمْ يَنْتَصِفِ اللَّيْلُ وَوَقْتُ الصُّبْحِ مَا لَمْ تَطْلُعِ الشَّمْسُ  

"A man came to the Prophet ﷺ asking him about the times of prayer, and he did not answer him. He told Bilal to say the Iqamah at dawn broke, then he told him to say the Iqamah for Zuhr when the sun had passed its zenith and a person would say: 'It is the middle of the day,' but he (the Prophet ﷺ) knew better. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for 'Asr when the sun was still high. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for Maghrib when the sun had set. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for 'Isha' when the twilight had dissapeared. Then the next day he told him to say the Iqamah for Fajr, at a time such that when after he had finished one would say: 'The sun has risen.' Then he delayed Zuhr until it was nearly the time of 'Asr compared to the day before. Then he delayed 'Asr, to a time such that when he finished one would say: 'The su has turned red.' Then he delayed Maghrib until the twilight was about to disappear. Then he delayed 'Isha' until one-third of the night had passed. Then he said: 'The time (for prayer) is between these times.'"  

أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ سَائِلٌ يَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ مَوَاقِيتِ الصَّلاَةِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا فَأَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ بِالْفَجْرِ حِينَ انْشَقَّ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ بِالظُّهْرِ حِينَ زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَائِلُ يَقُولُ انْتَصَفَ النَّهَارُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ بِالْعَصْرِ وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ بِالْمَغْرِبِ حِينَ غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ بِالْعِشَاءِ حِينَ غَابَ الشَّفَقُ ثُمَّ أَخَّرَ الْفَجْرَ مِنَ الْغَدِ حِينَ انْصَرَفَ وَالْقَائِلُ يَقُولُ طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ أَخَّرَ الظُّهْرَ إِلَى قَرِيبٍ مِنْ وَقْتِ الْعَصْرِ بِالأَمْسِ ثُمَّ أَخَّرَ الْعَصْرَ حَتَّى انْصَرَفَ وَالْقَائِلُ يَقُولُ احْمَرَّتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ أَخَّرَ الْمَغْرِبَ حَتَّى كَانَ عِنْدَ سُقُوطِ الشَّفَقِ ثُمَّ أَخَّرَ الْعِشَاءَ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ قَالَ الْوَقْتُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ  

"Muhammad bin 'Ali and I entered upon Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari. We said to him: 'Tell us about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' That was at the time of Al-Hajjaj bin Yusuf. He said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out and prayed Zuhr when the sun had passed its zenith and the shadow (of a thing) was the length of a sandal-strap. Then he prayed 'Asr when the shadow of a man was the length of a sandal-strap plus his height. Then he prayed Maghrib when the sun had set. Then he prayed 'Isha' when the twilight disappeared. Then he prayed Fajr when dawn broke. The next day he prayed Zuhr when a man's shadow was equal to his height. Then he prayed 'Asr when a man's shadow was twice his height, and (the time between the prayer and sunset) lasted as long as it takes a swift rider to reach Dhul-Hulaifah. Then he prayed Maghrib when the sun set, then he prayed 'Isha' when one-third or one-half of the night had passed'" - (One of the narrators) Zaid, was not sure - "then he prayed Fajr when it had become bright."  

أَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَذَاكَ زَمَنُ الْحَجَّاجِ بْنِ يُوسُفَ قَالَ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ حِينَ زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَكَانَ الْفَىْءُ قَدْرَ الشِّرَاكِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ حِينَ كَانَ الْفَىْءُ قَدْرَ الشِّرَاكِ وَظِلِّ الرَّجُلِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ حِينَ غَابَ الشَّفَقُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْفَجْرَ حِينَ طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى مِنَ الْغَدِ الظُّهْرَ حِينَ كَانَ الظِّلُّ طُولَ الرَّجُلِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ حِينَ كَانَ ظِلُّ الرَّجُلِ مِثْلَيْهِ قَدْرَ مَا يَسِيرُ الرَّاكِبُ سَيْرَ الْعَنَقِ إِلَى ذِي الْحُلَيْفَةِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ شَكَّ زَيْدٌ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْفَجْرَ فَأَسْفَرَ  

"I entered upon Abu Barzah, and my fatehr asked him: 'How did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pray the prescribed prayers?' He said: 'He used to pray Zuhr, which you call Al-Uula (the first) when the sun passed its zenith; he used to pray 'Asr when one of us could go back to his hoome in the farthest part of Al-Madinah while the sun was still bright.' I forgot what he said about Maghrib. 'And he used to like to delay 'Isha', which you call Al-'Atamah, and he did not like to sleep before it nor talk after it. And he used to finish the Al-Ghadah (Fajr) prayer when a man could recognize his neighbor, and he used to recite (in it) between sixty and one hundred verses.'"  

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي بَرْزَةَ فَسَأَلَهُ أَبِي كَيْفَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الْمَكْتُوبَةَ قَالَ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الْهَجِيرَ الَّتِي تَدْعُونَهَا الأُولَى حِينَ تَدْحَضُ الشَّمْسُ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ حِينَ يَرْجِعُ أَحَدُنَا إِلَى رَحْلِهِ فِي أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَالشَّمْسُ حَيَّةٌ وَنَسِيتُ مَا قَالَ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ وَكَانَ يَسْتَحِبُّ أَنْ يُؤَخِّرَ الْعِشَاءَ الَّتِي تَدْعُونَهَا الْعَتَمَةَ وَكَانَ يَكْرَهُ النَّوْمَ قَبْلَهَا وَالْحَدِيثَ بَعْدَهَا وَكَانَ يَنْفَتِلُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْغَدَاةِ حِينَ يَعْرِفُ الرَّجُلُ جَلِيسَهُ وَكَانَ يَقْرَأُ بِالسِّتِّينَ إِلَى الْمِائَةِ  

"Jibril, peace be upon him, came to the Prophet ﷺ when the sun had passed its zenith and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray Zuhr when the sun has passed its zenith.' Then he waited until a man's shadow was equal to his height. Then he came to him for 'Asr and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray 'Asr.' Then he waited until the sunset, then he came to him and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray Maghrib.' So he got up and prayed it when the sun had set. Then he waited until the twilight disappeared, then he came to him and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray 'Isha'.' So he got up and prayed it. Then he came to him when dawn broke and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he got up and prayed Subh.' So he got up and prayed Subh. Then he came to him the next day when a man's shadow was equal to his height, and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he prayed Zuhr. Then Jibril came to him when a man's shadow was equal to twice his length and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he prayed 'Asr. Then he came to him for Maghrib when the sun set, at exactly the same time as the day before, and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he prayed Maghrib. Then he came to him for 'Isha' when the first third of the night had passed, and said: 'Get up and pray.' So he prayed 'Isha'. Then he came to him for Subh when it had become very bright, and said: 'Get up and pray.' So he prayed Subh. Then he said: 'The times of prayer one between those two (limits).'"  

جَاءَ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ حِينَ زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَالَ قُمْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَصَلِّ الظُّهْرَ حِينَ مَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ مَكَثَ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ فَىْءُ الرَّجُلِ مِثْلَهُ جَاءَهُ لِلْعَصْرِ فَقَالَ قُمْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَصَلِّ الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ مَكَثَ حَتَّى إِذَا غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ قُمْ فَصَلِّ الْمَغْرِبَ فَقَامَ فَصَلاَّهَا حِينَ غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ سَوَاءً ثُمَّ مَكَثَ حَتَّى إِذَا ذَهَبَ الشَّفَقُ جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ قُمْ فَصَلِّ الْعِشَاءَ فَقَامَ فَصَلاَّهَا ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ حِينَ سَطَعَ الْفَجْرُ فِي الصُّبْحِ فَقَالَ قُمْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَصَلِّ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ مِنَ الْغَدِ حِينَ كَانَ فَىْءُ الرَّجُلِ مِثْلَهُ فَقَالَ قُمْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَصَلِّ فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ حِينَ كَانَ فَىْءُ الرَّجُلِ مِثْلَيْهِ فَقَالَ قُمْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَصَلِّ فَصَلَّى الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ لِلْمَغْرِبِ حِينَ غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَقْتًا وَاحِدًا لَمْ يَزُلْ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ قُمْ فَصَلِّ فَصَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ لِلْعِشَاءِ حِينَ ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الأَوَّلُ فَقَالَ قُمْ فَصَلِّ فَصَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ لِلصُّبْحِ حِينَ أَسْفَرَ جِدًّا فَقَالَ قُمْ فَصَلِّ فَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فَقَالَ مَا بَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ وَقْتٌ كُلُّهُ  

"Al-Hajjaj arrived, and we asked Jabir bin 'Abdullah, who said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed Zuhr at the time of intense heat, [1] and 'Asr when the sun was white and clear, and Maghrib when the sun set, and with 'Isha' it would depend - if he saw that the people had gathered, he would pray early, and if he saw that they had not come yet, he would delay it.'" [1] Meaning, at the earliest time.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ بِالْهَاجِرَةِ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ بَيْضَاءُ نَقِيَّةٌ وَالْمَغْرِبَ إِذَا وَجَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَالْعِشَاءَ أَحْيَانًا كَانَ إِذَا رَآهُمْ قَدِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَجَّلَ وَإِذَا رَآهُمْ قَدْ أَبْطَئُوا أَخَّرَ  

"I am the most knowledgeable of people about the time of the 'Isha' prayer. The Prophet ﷺ used to pray it when the moon set on the third night of the month."  

أَنَا أَعْلَمُ النَّاسِ بِمِيقَاتِ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةِ عِشَاءِ الآخِرَةِ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّيهَا لِسُقُوطِ الْقَمَرِ لِثَالِثَةٍ  

"By Allah, I am the most knowledgeable of people about the time of the 'Isha' prayers. The Prophet ﷺ used to pray it when the moon set on the third night of the month."  

وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَعْلَمُ النَّاسِ بِوَقْتِ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةِ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ الآخِرَةِ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّيهَا لِسُقُوطِ الْقَمَرِ لِثَالِثَةٍ  

"My father and I entered upon Abu Barzah, and my father said to him: 'How did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pray the prescribed prayers?' He said: He used to pray Zuhr, which you call Al-Uala (the first) when the sun passed its zenith; he used to pray 'Asr then one of us could go back to his home in the farthest part of Al-Madinah when the sun was still bright.'" - He said: "I forgot what he said to me about Maghrib." - "And he used to like to delay 'Isha', which you call Al-'Atamah, and he did not like to sleep before it nor speak after it. And he used to finish the Al-Ghadah (Fajr) prayer when a man could recognize his neighbor, and he used to recite between sixty and one hundred verses.'"  

دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَأَبِي عَلَى أَبِي بَرْزَةَ الأَسْلَمِيِّ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبِي أَخْبِرْنَا كَيْفَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الْمَكْتُوبَةَ قَالَ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الْهَجِيرَ الَّتِي تَدْعُونَهَا الأُولَى حِينَ تَدْحَضُ الشَّمْسُ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ أَحَدُنَا إِلَى رَحْلِهِ فِي أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَالشَّمْسُ حَيَّةٌ قَالَ وَنَسِيتُ مَا قَالَ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ قَالَ وَكَانَ يَسْتَحِبُّ أَنْ تُؤَخَّرَ صَلاَةُ الْعِشَاءِ الَّتِي تَدْعُونَهَا الْعَتَمَةَ قَالَ وَكَانَ يَكْرَهُ النَّوْمَ قَبْلَهَا وَالْحَدِيثَ بَعْدَهَا وَكَانَ يَنْفَتِلُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْغَدَاةِ حِينَ يَعْرِفُ الرَّجُلُ جَلِيسَهُ وَكَانَ يَقْرَأُ بِالسِّتِّينَ إِلَى الْمِائَةِ  

"I said to 'Ata': 'What is the best time you think I should pray Al-'Atamah, either in congregation or on my own?' He said: 'I heard Ibn 'Abbas say: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ delayed Al-'Atamah one night until the people had slept and woken up, then slept and woken up again. Then 'Umar got up and said: 'The prayer, the prayer!'" 'Ata' said: 'Ibn 'Abbas said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out, and it is as if I can see him now, with water dripping from his head, putting his hand on the side of his head. [He said: "And he indicated (how)"].'" I checked with 'Ata' how the Prophet ﷺ put his hand on his head, and he showed me the same way as Ibn 'Abbas had done. 'Ata' spread his fingers a little, then placed them with the tips of his fingers on his forehead, then he drew his fingers together on his head until his thumb touched the edge of the ear that is next to the face, then moved it to his temple and forehead, then he said: 'Were it not that I would impose too much difficulty for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to offer this prayer only at this time.'"  

قُلْتُ لِعَطَاءٍ أَىُّ حِينٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ الْعَتَمَةَ إِمَامًا أَوْ خِلْوًا قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ أَعْتَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ بِالْعَتَمَةِ حَتَّى رَقَدَ النَّاسُ وَاسْتَيْقَظُوا وَرَقَدُوا وَاسْتَيْقَظُوا فَقَامَ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ الصَّلاَةَ الصَّلاَةَ قَالَ عَطَاءٌ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ خَرَجَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ الآنَ يَقْطُرُ رَأْسُهُ مَاءً وَاضِعًا يَدَهُ عَلَى شِقِّ رَأْسِهِ قَالَ وَأَشَارَ فَاسْتَثْبَتُّ عَطَاءً كَيْفَ وَضَعَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَدَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَىَّ كَمَا أَشَارَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَبَدَّدَ لِي عَطَاءٌ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ بِشَىْءٍ مِنْ تَبْدِيدٍ ثُمَّ وَضَعَهَا فَانْتَهَى أَطْرَافُ أَصَابِعِهِ إِلَى مُقَدَّمِ الرَّأْسِ ثُمَّ ضَمَّهَا يَمُرُّ بِهَا كَذَلِكَ عَلَى الرَّأْسِ حَتَّى مَسَّتْ إِبْهَامَاهُ طَرَفَ الأُذُنِ مِمَّا يَلِي الْوَجْهَ ثُمَّ عَلَى الصَّدْغِ وَنَاحِيَةِ الْجَبِينِ لاَ يَقْصُرُ وَلاَ يَبْطُشُ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ كَذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لأَمَرْتُهُمْ أَنْ لاَ يُصَلُّوهَا إِلاَّ هَكَذَا  

"The Prophet ﷺ delayed 'Isha' one night until part of the night had passed. Then 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, got up and called out: 'The prayer, O Messenger of Allah! The women and children have gone to sleep.' Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out with water dripping from his head, saying: 'This is (the best) time (for 'Isha'), were it not that this would be too difficult for my Ummah.'"  

أَخَّرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْعِشَاءَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَقَامَ عُمَرُ ؓ فَنَادَى الصَّلاَةَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ رَقَدَ النِّسَاءُ وَالْوِلْدَانُ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْمَاءُ يَقْطُرُ مِنْ رَأْسِهِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ الْوَقْتُ لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to delay the later 'Isha'."[1] [1] It is described as the later 'Isha' prayer because the Maghrib prayer is sometimes called 'Isha' prayer, but it is the first 'Isha'. Some scholars are of the opinion that it is disliked to call Maghrib 'Isha' without qualifying it as the first 'Isha'. See Fath Al-Bari.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُؤَخِّرُ الْعِشَاءَ الآخِرَةَ  

"Were it not that I would impose too much difficulty on my Ummah, I would have commanded them to delay 'Isha' and to use the Siwak for every prayer."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِتَأْخِيرِ الْعِشَاءِ وَبِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ delayed A;-'Atamah one night, and 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, called out to him: 'The women and children have gone to sleep.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out and said: 'No one is waiting for it except you.' At that time no prayer was offered except in Al-Madinah. Then he said: 'Pray it between the time when the twilight disappears and when one-third of the night has passed.'"  

أَعْتَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيْلَةً بِالْعَتَمَةِ فَنَادَاهُ عُمَرُ ؓ نَامَ النِّسَاءُ وَالصِّبْيَانُ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَالَ مَا يَنْتَظِرُهَا غَيْرُكُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يُصَلَّى يَوْمَئِذٍ إِلاَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ ثُمَّ قَالَ صَلُّوهَا فِيمَا بَيْنَ أَنْ يَغِيبَ الشَّفَقُ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ حِمْيَرَ  

"The Prophet ﷺ delayed the prayer one night until most of the night had passed and the people in the Masjid had gone home to sleep, then he went out and prayed, and said: 'This is indeed its (prayer) time, were it not that I would impose too much difficulty on my Ummah.'"  

أَعْتَمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ عَامَّةُ اللَّيْلِ وَحَتَّى نَامَ أَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَصَلَّى وَقَالَ إِنَّهُ لَوَقْتُهَا لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي  

"We stayed in the Masjid one night waiting for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to pray 'Isha'. He came out to us when one-third of the night or more had passed, and he said when he came out: 'You are waiting for a prayer for which the followers of no other religion are waiting. Were it not that I would impose too much difficulty on my Ummah, I would have led them in prayer at this time.' Then he commanded the Mu'adhdhin to say the Iqamah and he prayed."  

مَكَثْنَا ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ نَنْتَظِرُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِعِشَاءِ الآخِرَةِ فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا حِينَ ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ فَقَالَ حِينَ خَرَجَ إِنَّكُمْ تَنْتَظِرُونَ صَلاَةً مَا يَنْتَظِرُهَا أَهْلُ دِينٍ غَيْرُكُمْ وَلَوْلاَ أَنْ يَثْقُلَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَصَلَّيْتُ بِهِمْ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ الْمُؤَذِّنَ فَأَقَامَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in Maghrib prayer, then he did not come out to us until half the night had passed. Then he came out and led them in prayer, then he said: 'The people have prayed and gone to sleep, but you are still in a state of prayer so long as you are waiting for the prayer. Were it not for the weakness of the weak and, the sickness of the sick, I would have commanded that this prayer be delayed until halfway through the night.'"  

صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةَ الْمَغْرِبِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْنَا حَتَّى ذَهَبَ شَطْرُ اللَّيْلِ فَخَرَجَ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ صَلُّوا وَنَامُوا وَأَنْتُمْ لَمْ تَزَالُوا فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا انْتَظَرْتُمُ الصَّلاَةَ وَلَوْلاَ ضَعْفُ الضَّعِيفِ وَسُقْمُ السَّقِيمِ لأَمَرْتُ بِهَذِهِ الصَّلاَةِ أَنْ تُؤَخَّرَ إِلَى شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ  

"Anas was asked: 'Did the Prophet ﷺ use a ring?' He said: 'Yes. One night he delayed the later 'Isha' prayer, until almost halfway through the night. When he prayed the Prophet ﷺ turned his face toward us and said: 'You are still in a state of prayer so long as you waiting for it.'" Anas said: 'It is as if I can see the luster of his ring.' According to the narration of 'Ali - that is, Ibn Hujr - "until halfway through the night."  

سُئِلَ أَنَسٌ هَلِ اتَّخَذَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ خَاتَمًا قَالَ نَعَمْ أَخَّرَ لَيْلَةً صَلاَةَ الْعِشَاءِ الآخِرَةِ إِلَى قَرِيبٍ مِنْ شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ فَلَمَّا أَنْ صَلَّى أَقْبَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَزَالُوا فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا انْتَظَرْتُمُوهَا قَالَ أَنَسٌ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى وَبِيصِ خَاتَمِهِ فِي حَدِيثِ عَلِيٍّ إِلَى شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ  

"If the people knew what (virtue) there was in the call to prayer and the first row, and they not find any way to get to do that [1] other than by drawing lots, they would do that. If they knew what (virtue) there was in coming early to prayer, they would compete to be first in the Masjid. If they knew what (virtue) there was in Al-'Atamah and Subh, they would come to them even if they had to crawl." [1] Indicating the two mentioned items: that is the call to prayer and praying in the first row.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي التَّهْجِيرِ لاَسْتَبَقُوا إِلَيْهِ وَلَوْ عَلِمُوا مَا فِي الْعَتَمَةِ وَالصُّبْحِ لأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Do not let the Bedouin make you change the name of this prayer of yours, for they delay the prayer until it is very dark because of their preoccupation with camels and milking them. Verily, it is 'Isha'.'"  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تَغْلِبَنَّكُمُ الأَعْرَابُ عَلَى اسْمِ صَلاَتِكُمْ هَذِهِ فَإِنَّهُمْ يُعْتِمُونَ عَلَى الإِبِلِ وَإِنَّهَا الْعِشَاءُ  

"I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say on the Minbar: 'Do not let the Bedouin make you change the name of your prayer; verily, it is 'Isha'.'"  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ لاَ تَغْلِبَنَّكُمُ الأَعْرَابُ عَلَى اسْمِ صَلاَتِكُمْ أَلاَ إِنَّهَا الْعِشَاءُ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed Subh as soon as he was certain the dawn had appeared."  

صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الصُّبْحَ حِينَ تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الصُّبْحُ