We, the people of the mosque, wish to delay the 'Isha' prayer; since we are able to establish the congregation and call people to pray at the end of its time.
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The questioner: His EminenceThe Shaykh- May Allah preserve you - ... this mosque, we wish to delay the 'Isha' prayer; because we are the only ones in this area who can establish the congregation and call people to pray if we delay, and the imam says the best is to pray at the beginning of its time?
The Shaykh : The answer to this question, if it is with this specification and this detail ... that we attribute to the imam is not correct; unless he himself is hesitant about delaying, that is a second matter. But to say that performing the prayer at the beginning of its time is better; this answer or this statement regarding the 'Isha' prayer is not correct; because the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as it came in "Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim" from the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when asked about the best deeds, said:, and it came in some other narrations: . This hadith is one of the general hadiths that has been specified; so every prayer of the five prayers is included in this statement or in this answer from the Messenger (peace be upon him), except the 'Isha' prayer; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say, as it came in "Sahih al-Bukhari" and others: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 23Hasan (Darussalam). So delaying the 'Isha' prayer to the middle of the night is the first option if the people of the mosque do not find it difficult for them. But if there are people for whom delaying is difficult, then the matter returns to what it was in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which is not delaying the 'Isha' prayer.
In any case, this issue differs or relates to the residents of the town or the inhabitants around this mosque. If they see no harm in delaying the 'Isha' prayer, the response to them should not be that praying at the beginning of its time is better; because this is not correct regarding the 'Isha' prayer. But it can be said that not everyone desires to delay. As for the answer that praying at the beginning of its time - meaning: even the 'Isha' prayer - ... .
The Shaykh : The answer to this question, if it is with this specification and this detail ... that we attribute to the imam is not correct; unless he himself is hesitant about delaying, that is a second matter. But to say that performing the prayer at the beginning of its time is better; this answer or this statement regarding the 'Isha' prayer is not correct; because the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as it came in "Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim" from the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when asked about the best deeds, said:
Prayer at its time
الصلاة لوقتهاPrayer at the beginning of its time
الصلاة لأوَّل وقتهاIf it were not that it would be difficult on my nation then, I would have ordered them to use the Siwak for each prayer and to delay the Isha prayer until the third of the night.
لولا أن أشقَّ على أمتي لَأمرتهم بالسواك عند كل صلاة ، ولَأخَّرت صلاة العشاء إلى نصف الليلIn any case, this issue differs or relates to the residents of the town or the inhabitants around this mosque. If they see no harm in delaying the 'Isha' prayer, the response to them should not be that praying at the beginning of its time is better; because this is not correct regarding the 'Isha' prayer. But it can be said that not everyone desires to delay. As for the answer that praying at the beginning of its time - meaning: even the 'Isha' prayer - ... .
Source
www.al-albany.com
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