The Times of Maghrib and ‘Isha’ Salah (Prayer)

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘It is time for al-Maghrib Salah (prayer) when the redness disappears in the east. Do you know how it happens? 5 I replied, ‘No, I do not know. 5 He (the Imam) said that it is because the east is under-hanged in relation to the west like this. 5 He (the Imam) raised his right hand over his left hand. ‘When it is sunset here, the redness disappears there.”’

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), ‘When the redness disappears from this side, that is, from the east, it is proof that it is sunset in the east and west.’”

"Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah has created a barrier of darkness from near the east and has appointed for it an angel. When it is sunset, that angel fills up his hand with it, then faces toward the west, following the brightness and it moves out of his two hands little by little. He passes by until he comes to the west at the time of the disappearance of brightness; then he leaves darkness into darkness, then he returns to the east and, when it is dawn, he spreads his wings and drives the darkness from the east toward the west until he comes in the west at sunrise.’"

"Abu ’Abd Allah has said, ‘The disappearance of the disk (the sun), the necessary time to discontinue fasting is when facing its direction and the disappearance of the redness that rise from the east upon its reaching overhead toward the west at such time fasting is discontinued; the (disappearance of the disk (sunset) has taken place.’”

Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) said: "The time for Maghrib is when the disc (of the sun) has disappeared. If you see (the sun) after that and you have prayed, then repeat the prayer, and your fast remains valid. You should refrain from food if you have eaten anything."

Rest assured, he does not forge untrue reports from us.’ I said that he has said, ’It is the time of sunset when the disk disappears (sunset takes place) except that the Messenger of Allah when tired on a journey delayed al-Maghrib and performed both of them together with al-‘Isha’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He has spoken the truth.’ He (the Imam) said that the time of al-‘Isha’ is from when brightness disappears, up to one-third of the night and the time for dawn Salah (prayer) is from when it is clear up till the rays come out.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘It is time for al-Maghrib Salah (prayer) when it is sunset and its (sun’s) disc disappears.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the time of al-Maghrib. He (the Imam) said that Jibril brought to the Holy prophet, two timings for every Salah (prayer) except al-Maghrib Salah (prayer). The time for al-Maghrib is when it becomes obligatory.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘For every Salah (prayer) there are two timings except al- Maghrib; its timing is one and it is the time when it becomes obligatory. It ends with the disappearance of al-Shafaq (redness in the west).”’ “It is also narrated that there are two timings for al-Maghrib and it ends with the disappearance of al- Shafaq (redness). It does not disagree with the previous Hadith that says it has one time; because al- Shafaq is the redness. The time between sunset and disappearance of al-Shafaq is not very long. The sign of sunset is when redness reaches past one’s overhead when facing the direction of sunset, and it is a short time. The time between the reaching of the redness in the western horizon and its disappearance is not more than a time that takes one to complete al-Maghrib Salah (prayer) and its Nawafil (optional) Salah (prayer), if they are performed comfortably. I have examined it many times and for this reason the timing for al-Maghrib is narrow.”

“Ali ibn Asbat once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), when we were listening, about the brightness if it is redness or whiteness. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the redness; in the case of the condition of whiteness, it (virtuous time for al-Maghrib) remains up to one third of the night.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about when al-‘Atmah (al-‘Isha’) becomes obligatory? He (the Imam) said, ‘When al-Shafaq (redness) disappears. Al-Shafaq is the redness.’ ‘Ubayd Allah then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, after the disappearance of redness there remains a strong light visible.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘Brightness (al-Shafaq) is the redness and light (or rays) are not from al-Shafaq.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When it is sunset, it is time for two Salah (prayer) except that this is before that.’”

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "If it were not for the difficulty it would cause my community, I would have delayed the 'Isha prayer until one-third of the night." It has also been narrated that he would have delayed it until half the night.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The time for al-Maghrib Salah (prayer) on a journey remains until passing of one-fourth of the night.’”

“I once wrote to the man (the Imam) ‘Alayhi al-Salam, and asked about a man who is within the house. The walls do not allow him to see the redness in the west to find about al-Shafaq (redness) and the time for al-‘Isha’ al-Akhirah. When must he perform Salah (prayer) and what should he do? He (the Imam) (a.s.), signed the answer that said, ‘He performs it (al-‘Isha’) when on this side, stars appear and al-Maghrib when just few stars appear. The clarity of sunset is from the appearance of few stars until their clearly becoming visible.’”

“I once, wrote to al-Rida’ (a.s.), to ask a question. ‘Our people have said that when the sun declines toward the west at noontime, it is the time of al-Dhuhr and al-‘Asr Salah (prayers). When it is sunset it is time of al-Maghrib and al-‘Isha’ al-Akhirah Salah (prayers) except that this is before this. It is the same for one at home or on a journey and the time of al-Maghrib remains until passing of one-fourth of night.’ He (the Imam) wrote to me, ‘That is how the timing is, except that the time of al- Maghrib is short and its end is when redness disappears, turning to whiteness in the western horizon.’”