2/8. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 693 — Weak and Sick Considered in Isha
The Time Of The 'Isha' Prayer
Isha Delay, Waiting for Prayer, and Mercy
Sunan Ibn Majah : 693
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 693
حَدَّثَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ مُوسَى اللَّيْثِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ صَلاَةَ الْمَغْرِبِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ شَطْرُ اللَّيْلِ فَخَرَجَ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ صَلَّوْا وَنَامُوا وَأَنْتُمْ لَمْ تَزَالُوا فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا انْتَظَرْتُمُ الصَّلاَةَ وَلَوْلاَ الضَّعِيفُ وَالسَّقِيمُ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أُؤَخِّرَ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةَ إِلَى شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ " .
Abu Sa'eed Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah led us for the Maghrib prayer. Then he did not come out until half the night had passed. Then he came out and led them in prayer, then he said: "The people have prayed and gone to sleep, but you are still in a state of prayer so long as you are waiting for the (next) prayer. Were it not for the weak and the sick, I wanted to delay this prayer until the middle of the night.'"
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 693In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 27English translation : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 693
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 693
This Hadith about Isha prayer time brings together two lessons. Abu Sa'eed narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم led Maghrib, then later came out after half the night had passed and led the people in prayer. He told them they were still in a state of prayer as long as they waited. Then he said that, were it not for the weak and the sick, he would have liked to delay this prayer until the middle of the night. The Hadith shows value in waiting, but also care for those who may struggle. It is a clear lesson in prayer, patience, and mercy without adding outside rulings.
What we learn from this hadith
- Waiting for prayer is praised in the wording of this Hadith.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم considered the weak and the sick before delaying Isha.
- The narration balances worship with care for people’s hardship.
