5/39. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 639a — Waiting for Isha After a Third of the Night
The time of `Isha and delaying it
Waiting for Isha Prayer: A Hadith on Patience and Mercy
Sahih Muslim : 639a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 639a
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، - قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ، زُهَيْرٌ 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 الآخِرَةِ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا حِينَ ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ فَلاَ نَدْرِي أَشَىْءٌ شَغَلَهُ فِي أَهْلِهِ أَوْ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ حِينَ خَرَجَ " إِنَّكُمْ لَتَنْتَظِرُونَ صَلاَةً مَا يَنْتَظِرُهَا أَهْلُ دِينٍ غَيْرُكُمْ وَلَوْلاَ أَنْ يَثْقُلَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَصَلَّيْتُ بِهِمْ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ " . ثُمَّ أَمَرَ الْمُؤَذِّنَ فَأَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ وَصَلَّى .
Abdullah b. Umar reported: We waited one night in expectation of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for the last prayer of the night, and he came out to us when a third of the night had passed even after that. We do not know whether he had been occupied with family business or something else. When he came cut he said: You are waiting for prayer, for which the followers of no other religion wait. except you. Were it not a burden for my Ummah, I would have led them (in the 'Isya' prayer) at this hour. He then ordered the Mu'adhdbin (to call for prayer) and then stood up for prayer and observed prayer.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 639aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 279USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1334
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 639a
Competitor-style search intent for this hadith points to “waiting for Isha prayer hadith,” with related searches like “Isha after third of night,” “burden on my Ummah,” and “Sahih Muslim 639a.” Abdullah b. Umar reports that they waited one night for the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم for the last prayer of the night. He came out after a third of the night had passed, or even later. The people did not know whether he had been busy with family matters or something else. When he came out, he said they were waiting for a prayer for which no followers of another religion waited except them. He also said that if it were not heavy upon his Ummah, he would have led them at that hour. Then he ordered the mu'adhdhin, stood, and prayed. The report joins patience, prayer, and mercy.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Companions waited for the last prayer of the night.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came out after a third of the night or later.
- He said this waiting was special to them.
- He avoided making that late hour heavy on his Ummah.
