Question:
Assalamualaikum,
I’m sorry but I have a question regarding the time or duration for isha’ prayer. Is it true that the time for isha’ prayer ends in the middle of night or at 12.30 am?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Scholars opinions on this matter is divided into three. First, the time for isha’ prayer ends at the end of the first one-third of the night. Second, it ends in the middle of the night. Third, the time of isha’ prayer is until the rise of true dawn (fajr sadq). Refer Sahih Fiqh al-Sunnah (1/215).
The final opinion in madhhab al-Syafie states that the time for isha’ prayer ends when the true dawn rises. As for the prioritized time to perform isha’ prayer is until one-third of the night and in another opinion until the middle of the night. Furthermore, the jawaz (permissible) time is up till the time of subuh prayer begins. There are some scholars who ruled it makruh (undesirable) to delay the isha’ prayer after the middle of the night to avoid the khilaf (difference of opinions). Refer al-Mu’tamad fi al-Fiqh al-Syafie (1/167).
Wallahua’lam.