2/11. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 420 — Isha After One-Third of the Night
The Time For The Later Isha'
Isha Prayer After One-Third of the Night
Sunan Abi Dawud : 420
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 420
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ مَكَثْنَا ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ نَنْتَظِرُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِصَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا حِينَ ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ فَلاَ نَدْرِي أَشَىْءٌ شَغَلَهُ أَمْ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ حِينَ خَرَجَ " أَتَنْتَظِرُونَ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةَ لَوْلاَ أَنْ تَثْقُلَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَصَلَّيْتُ بِهِمْ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ " . ثُمَّ أَمَرَ الْمُؤَذِّنَ فَأَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ .
`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:
We remained one night waiting for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to offer the Isha prayer. He came out to us when one-third of the night has passed or even after it. We did not know whether anything kept him occupied or there was some other matter. When he came out, he said: Are you waiting for this prayer? Were it not that it would impose a burden on my people, I would normally pray with them at this time. He then gave orders to the mu'adhdhin who declared that the time of the prayer had come.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 420In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 30English translation : Book 2, Hadith 420
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 420
This hadith explains a late timing of Isha and the Prophet's صلى الله عليه وسلم care for his people. Ibn Umar says they waited one night for the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم to offer Isha. He came out when one-third of the night had passed or even after it. He asked if they were waiting for this prayer, then said that if it would not be heavy on his people, he would normally pray with them at that time. He then ordered the mu'adhdhin, and the prayer was established. For users searching for Isha after one third of the night hadith, the text shows both the merit of that time and the concern not to burden the community.
What we learn from this hadith
- Isha was prayed after one-third of the night in this report.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned concern that this time could be heavy on his people.
- The prayer was established after he ordered the mu'adhdhin.
- The hadith balances a later Isha time with mercy and ease for the community.
