The ruling on delaying the Maghrib prayer beyond its time

Question:
May Allah reward you. The questioner asks: What is the ruling on delaying the Maghrib prayer? He says that he is forced to do so because he is seeking knowledge, and what must he do regarding this matter?

Answer:
It is not permissible to delay the prayer beyond its time except for a valid religious excuse. This includes the one who sleeps without intending to sleep, for that is an overpowering state, or the one who forgets the prayer. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It also includes the one who intends to combine it with the prayer that follows, or the one who intends to combine it with the prayer that follows if he is among those for whom combining is permissible, such as the traveler, the sick person, and those who are caught by rain and mud between the two Isha' prayers. If the combining is for an excuse, then it is permissible to delay the first prayer until the second. However, delaying it without an excuse, without illness, without travel, and without rain, is not permissible. Nor is it permissible for one who is not sleeping and not forgetting to delay the prayer beyond its time.