Can We Combine ’Isha and Maghrib Prayers during the Summer Months?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Is it valid or permissible to combine prayers, specifically ‘Isha and maghrib, in the summer months in the UK? ‘Isha starts at 11pm and fajr at 3am. On a personal level, I find it difficult to balance Isha, sleep, and work. I often try to wake up before fajr starts and pray Isha then fajr at the appointed times.

I must admit that I sometimes oversleep and have to pray qada of ‘Isha. As the days get longer, ‘Isha will get even later. I usually sleep around 10 p.m. for most of the year.

Answer

I pray you are well.

No, combining the maghrib and ‘isha prayers is not valid in the Hanafi school. There has been much discussion over this in recent years and historically. Yes, it can be challenging to manage, but it is doable for most people. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

The Prayer Times

The issue is the absence sign of the entrance and exit of the time of ‘isha – the disappearance and appearance of the white twilight. Therefore, calculating the entry and exit times has been the approach adopted by scholars. However, the method of calculation differs.

You can pray ‘isha an hour after sunset, and for fajr, consistently use one of the means of calculating its start time. There are more details in this answer.

Choosing an earlier time for fajr, such as the middle of the night position, makes it possible to pray fajr at around 1 a.m. This is a very useful and practical position.

You can pray ‘isha, have a light nap if you wish, pray fajr, and then get a long block of sleep before getting up early for work, etc. Having a nap after work will help facilitate the routine for the few summer months.

Allah Rewards You for the Difficulty

Ask Allah for help and try to amend your routine to ensure you get all your prayers performed at their proper time throughout the year. Getting obligatory acts performed is a huge act of worship. This can be understood from the verse “…no thirst, fatigue, or hunger afflicts them in the way of Allah…except that an act of worship is written for them. Indeed, Allah does not lost the reward of those who excel in goodness.” [Quran, 9:120]

May Allah facilitate it for you.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital, and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.