Question
Reference number: 690658 | Prayers | Jan. 30, 2021
What is the ruling on praying the Isha’ Prayer two hours after the Adhan (call for prayer)?
Answer
Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.
Referring to your question, there are two opinions that Muslim scholars have given. The first one is that the time of the Isha’ Prayer extends up to midnight; in other words, you can perform it at your leisure but no later than midnight. However, it can be performed just before Al-Fajr Prayer if a Muslim had some conditions that made them delay it (out of their control); for example, if a menstruating woman becomes pure after midnight, she can take a purification shower and perform it even though it is after midnight; and if a boy reaches puberty, he also can take a purification shower and then pray. Abdullah Ibn Omar narrated that the prophet said: “When you pray Isha’, its time is until half of the night has passed.” An-Nawawi explained this as the time during which a Muslim can pray Isha’ extends, and anyone can to pray it late
However, other scholars said that the Isha’ Prayer’s time is only up to midnight; thus, whoever performs it later than that, it is considered as a prayer which has been made up. This is a strong opinion, and it should be taken into consideration. In other words, a Muslim should be careful and perform the prayer before midnight.
Therefore, if you pray Isha’ after two hours, it is acceptable as it is not later than midnight, the opinion upon which all scholars have agreed.