Questioner:
I heard that it is recommended for men to delay the time of Ṣalāh. Is that permissible for the women?
Shaykh ’Abd al-’Azīz bn Abdillāh bn Bāz:
All praise is for Allāh and may the blessings and peace of Allāh be upon the Messenger of Allāh, and upon his household and companions and those who follow his guidance. To proceed:
It is established from the Prophet ﷺ what indicates that it is recommended for men and women to delay Ṣalāh al-‘Ishaa; because when he ﷺ delayed it one night to around the (first) third of the night, he said:
“This is it’s (best) time if not that I don’t want to make things difficult upon my Ummah.”
So when it is easy to delay it without discomfort, it is better. So if the people of a community or a travelling group were to delay it –because it is easier for them– to the third of the night, there’s no harm in that. Rather, it is better.
However, it is not permissible to delay it past midnight. The ending is midnight. Meaning, the time for al-‘Ishaa ends by midnight -i.e optionally- as contained in the Ḥadeeth of Abdullāh bn ‘Amr from the Prophet ﷺ that he said:
“The time for al-‘Ishaa is to the Midnight.”
As for if delaying it will be difficult upon some people then what is legislated is to hasten it.
And due to this Jābir said about the Prophet ﷺ:
“Whenever he saw the people assembled (for `Isha’ prayer) he would pray earlier and if the people delayed, he would delay the prayer.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 560]
And Abū Barzah said:
“The Prophet ﷺ preferred delaying al-‘Ishaa.”
The summary is: Surely, delaying it is better if it is easy without any discomfort. However, it is not permissible to delay it beyond midnight.
