2/10. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 418 — Do Not Delay Maghrib Until Stars Shine
The Time For Maghrib
Do Not Delay Maghrib Until the Stars Shine
Sunan Abi Dawud : 418
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 418
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنِي يَزِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ مَرْثَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ لَمَّا قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا أَبُو أَيُّوبَ غَازِيًا وَعُقْبَةُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَى مِصْرَ فَأَخَّرَ الْمَغْرِبَ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةُ يَا عُقْبَةُ فَقَالَ شُغِلْنَا . قَالَ أَمَا سَمِعْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ تَزَالُ أُمَّتِي بِخَيْرٍ - أَوْ قَالَ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ - مَا لَمْ يُؤَخِّرُوا الْمَغْرِبَ إِلَى أَنْ تَشْتَبِكَ النُّجُومُ " .
Marthad ibn Abdullah Narrated from:
When AbuAyyub came upon us to fight the infidels and in those days Uqbah ibn Amir was the Governor of Egypt, he (Uqbah) delayed the sunset prayer. Hence AbuAyyub stood and said: What kind of prayer is this, Uqbah? He said: We were busy. He said: Did you not hear the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: My community will remain well, or he said: will remain on its natural condition, so long as it would not delay the evening prayer until the stars shine brightly just like a network.
[1] Meaning the innate sense created in humans to not worship others besides Allāh. See nos. 53, 4714, 5046.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 418In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 28English translation : Book 2, Hadith 418
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 418
This hadith focuses on not delaying Maghrib too long. AbuAyyub came while Uqbah ibn Amir was governor of Egypt, and Uqbah delayed the sunset prayer because they were busy. AbuAyyub questioned him and reminded him of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم saying that the community would remain well, or remain on its natural condition, as long as they did not delay Maghrib until the stars shone brightly like a network. For readers searching for do not delay Maghrib hadith, the teaching is very clear. Being busy is mentioned in the report, but AbuAyyub still objected to the delay. The focus is keeping Maghrib close to its proper early time.
What we learn from this hadith
- Maghrib should not be delayed until the stars shine brightly.
- Being busy is mentioned, yet the delay was questioned.
- The hadith links early Maghrib with the community remaining well or natural.
- The report uses the visible spread of stars as a sign of late delay.
