Is it permissible for the imam in the mosque to delay the 'Isha' prayer with the congregation for an hour or more?
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Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: Is it permissible for the imam in the mosque to delay the 'Isha' prayer with the congregation for an hour or more?
Answer:
No, no. If it is difficult for them, it is not permissible for him to make it difficult for them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: As for 'Isha', if he sees them hurrying, he hurries, and if he sees them delaying, he delays. He considers the ma'mum (those praying behind the imam). Yes. However, if he is praying alone or with a group who prefer to delay it to a third of the night seeking the reward, there is no harm. But if it is difficult for the people and he says, "I prefer the virtue," no, he prays with them at the beginning of the time. Yes.
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: Is it permissible for the imam in the mosque to delay the 'Isha' prayer with the congregation for an hour or more?
Answer:
No, no. If it is difficult for them, it is not permissible for him to make it difficult for them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: As for 'Isha', if he sees them hurrying, he hurries, and if he sees them delaying, he delays. He considers the ma'mum (those praying behind the imam). Yes. However, if he is praying alone or with a group who prefer to delay it to a third of the night seeking the reward, there is no harm. But if it is difficult for the people and he says, "I prefer the virtue," no, he prays with them at the beginning of the time. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، [451 -3022] هل للإمام في المسجد أن يؤخر صلاة العشاء بالجماعة لمدة ساعة أو أكثر؟ - الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.