Is There a Difference of Opinion on the Entrance of ’Isha Time?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

Is there a difference of opinion regarding the entrance of ‘Isha prayer time. If so, is it permissible to act on either of those opinions?

Answer

‘Isha prayer enters when the twilight (shafaq) disappears from the night sky. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]  

Opinions Regarding the Twilight

However the scholars differed as to what the twilight is exactly. Imam Abu Hanifa understood the twilight to be the residual white light after which the sky becomes pitch black. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

However, according to another narration from Imam Abu Hanifa and the opinions of the Imams Abu Yusuf, Muhammad, as well as Malik, Ahmad, and al-Shafi’i – the twilight is the redness that remains after the sunset. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Reconciling Between These Opinions

Many scholars have taken that the legal opinion is upon the position of Imam Abu Yusuf and Muhammad. However others, such as the author of al-Hidaya and others have taken a more cautious route based on the principle that when there are opposing texts no prayer time can be concerned to have ended on the bases of doubt. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar citing al-Murghinani]

With that being said, both opinions are deemed valid in the Hanafi school and can be acted upon. The opinion of Imam Abu Yusuf and Muhammad being more expansive (since it is earlier) and the opinion of Imam Abu Hanifa being more cautious (since it is later). [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar citing al-Siraj]

The difference between the two opinions is approximately three degrees equivalent to approximately 12 minutes. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar citing the Risala of al-Muhaqqiq ‘Ali Afandi]

Closing Advice

Even though both opinions have been deemed valid in the Hanafi school one should not pick and choose whimsically. It would prove best if one were to choose one opinion and stick to it. 

However if one goes to a Mosque and they are praying at the other time the prayer is valid.

Hope this helps

Allah knows best

[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.