94/9. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7239 — Delaying Isha Without Hardship
What uses of Al-Lau are allowed
وَقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: {لَوْ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً} .
Isha Prayer Time Hadith: Ease for the Ummah
Sahih Bukhari : 7239
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7239
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ عَمْرٌو حَدَّثَنَا عَطَاءٌ، قَالَ أَعْتَمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالْعِشَاءِ فَخَرَجَ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ الصَّلاَةَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، رَقَدَ النِّسَاءُ وَالصِّبْيَانُ، فَخَرَجَ وَرَأْسُهُ يَقْطُرُ يَقُولُ " لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي ـ أَوْ عَلَى النَّاسِ، وَقَالَ سُفْيَانُ أَيْضًا، عَلَى أُمَّتِي ـ لأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ ". قَالَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ عَنْ عَطَاءٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَخَّرَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةَ فَجَاءَ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ رَقَدَ النِّسَاءُ وَالْوِلْدَانُ. فَخَرَجَ وَهْوَ يَمْسَحُ الْمَاءَ عَنْ شِقِّهِ يَقُولُ " إِنَّهُ لَلْوَقْتُ، لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي ". وَقَالَ عَمْرٌو حَدَّثَنَا عَطَاءٌ لَيْسَ فِيهِ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَمَّا عَمْرٌو فَقَالَ رَأْسُهُ يَقْطُرُ. وَقَالَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ يَمْسَحُ الْمَاءَ عَنْ شِقِّهِ. وَقَالَ عَمْرٌو لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي. وَقَالَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ إِنَّهُ لَلْوَقْتُ، لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي. وَقَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنٌ، حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
'Ata Narrated from:
One night the Prophet (ﷺ) delayed the `Isha' prayer whereupon `Umar went to him and said, "The prayer, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! The women and children had slept." The Prophet (ﷺ) came out with water dropping from his head, and said, "Were I not afraid that it would be hard for my followers (or for the people), I would order them to pray `Isha prayer at this time." (Various versions of this Hadith are given by the narrators with slight differences in expression but not in content).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7239In-book reference : Book 94, Hadith 14USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 90, Hadith 345
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7239
This hadith is commonly searched as Isha prayer time hadith or Prophet delayed Isha prayer. Ata narrates that one night the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم delayed the Isha prayer. Umar came and said that the women and children had slept. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came out while water was dropping from his head and said that if it would not be hard for his followers, he would have ordered them to pray Isha at that time. Another wording says, “It is indeed its time,” but he did not want to make it difficult for the Ummah. The hadith highlights two points from the text: Isha may be delayed, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم cared about hardship on the people.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم considered the condition of women, children, and the people.
- He avoided ordering something that would be hard for his followers.
- The hadith shows that delayed Isha had value, but ease was also considered.
- Prophetic guidance included mercy in practical worship.
