Fatwa ID: 08977
Answered by Maulana Abdurrahman Persaud
Question:
Assalāmu ʿAlaykum wa Raḥmatullāhi wa Barakātuh,
I hope this message finds you in the best of health and īmān.
I am currently serving as an imām of a masjid in the UK. I would like to humbly request your guidance on a matter concerning the start time of ʿIshāʾ Ṣalāh.
In our locality, there is significant variation in the practice regarding the starting time of ʿIshāʾ Ṣalāh. For example:
One masjid begins ʿIshāʾ exactly one hour after Maghrib (e.g., if Maghrib is at 9:26 PM, then ʿIshāʾ is at 10:26 PM).
Another masjid begins ʿIshāʾ one and a half hours after Maghrib (i.e., 10:56 PM).
A third masjid combines Maghrib and ʿIshāʾ, performing them one after the other.
These different practices have created confusion within the local Muslim community regarding the correct and permissible time to perform ʿIshāʾ Ṣalāh.
I would be grateful if you could kindly clarify the following:
- Accordingto theḤanafī madhhab, when does the time for ʿIshāʾ Ṣalāh correctly begin?
- Is it permissible to performʿIshāʾ60–90 minutes after Maghrib, especially during the summer months when twilight remains for an extended time?
- What isthe ruling on combining Maghrib andʿIshāʾ in this context, and under what circumstances (if any) would it be valid or allowed?
- Does the starttime ofʿIshāʾ vary based on seasonal changes or calculation methods (e.g., using 15° or 18° sun depression angles)?
- What would be the most cautious and reliable approach for a masjid and its congregation to adopt, particularly in the UK?
Your detailed answer will be highly appreciated as I wish to ensure that our congregation is acting in accordance with the most correct and precautionary opinion.
JazākumAllāhu Khayran for your time and efforts in preserving and clarifying the Dīn.
Was-Salāmu ʿAlaykum wa Raḥmatullāhi wa Barakātuh
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
According to Imam Abu Hanafi, Esha time sets in when as-shafaq-al-abyad (Whitness in the sky after sunset) disappears, while his two students, Imam Yusuf and Imam Muhammad, maintain that after as-shafaq al-ahmar (redness in the sky after sunset) disappears.[1]
To practice on the view of Imam Abu Hanifa Rahmatullahi Allai is safer since everyone unanimously agrees upon the permissibility of Isha after the whiteness in the sky has disappeared.
To fix a specific time as you have mentioned, like 60-90 minutes after magrib, would not be advised since it changes according to seasons; however, if the time is set to such a duration that falls well within the parameters after Esha time has commenced, then this would not be a problem.
Combining the Magrib and Esha sallah according to the Hanafi mazhab can only be done sooratan (waiting till the last moment for the first sallah and praying the second sallah in its first time). [2]
Sayyidatuna Aaisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), while on a journey, used to delay the Dhuhr and bring forward the Asr Salaat, and he would delay the Maghrib and bring forward the Esha Salaat.
This can be done for any two sallah, provided there is a genuine need, like a journey.
When the sun reaches the 15° mark, esha time has set in regardless of season or location; however, it is important to understand that the seasons will make the time for the sun to reach the 15° mark less or more. As in winter the days are shorter, so the sun will reach the mark faster as opposed to summer, where the days are much longer, so the sun will take a little longer to reach the 15° mark.
It will be permissible to act upon the view of Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad, praying sallah in as-shafaq-al-ahmar due to the difficulty of waiting.
But this should only be done in the days of summer. In winter, there is no real difficulty. Isha should be read at its normal 18-degree time, as is the view of Imam Abu Hanifa.[3]
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Abdurrahman Persaud
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
ص56 – اللباب في شرح الكتاب – ، وأول وقت المغرب إذا غربت الشمس، وآخر وقتها ما لم يغب الشفق، وهو البياض الذي في الأفق بعد الحمرة عند أبي حنيفة، وقال أبو يوسف ومحمدٌ: هو الحمرة – المكتبة الشاملة
[2]
Musnad Ahmad vol.6 pg.135 Hadith24920 and al-Tahawi – Muhaddith al-Nimawi has classified this narration as Hasan; Aathaarus-sunan pg.432
[3]
Fatawa Uthmani of Mufti Taqi Utamani v. 1 p. 390