Time for Maghrib and ‘Isha prayers

743. The time for Maghrib sets in when the redness in the eastern sky – which appears after sunset – passes overhead.

744. According to view of Mashhoor (famous) scholars, there are specific timings and common timings for offering both Namaz – e – Maghrib and ‘Isha:

Specific timing of Namaz – e – Maghrib: it begins when the redness in the eastern sky passes overhead till the time taken for offering 3 Rak’ats, for example if a person is a traveler and unintentionally prays his entire Namaz – e – ‘Isha in that time, as per precautionary measures his prayers will be void; specific timing of Namaz – e – ‘Isha is when there is time for only 4 Rak’ats left before midnight, and if someone has not offered his Maghrib prayers then at time he should offer his ‘Isha prayers, and then should offer his Maghrib prayers. And in between the two specific timings lies the common timing of offering the Maghrib and ‘Isha prayers, and if someone unintentionally offers his ‘Isha prayers before offering his Maghrib prayers and later

realizes about it, the prayer he offered is in order and Thereafter he will offer Maghrib prayers.

745. The specific and common timing of Maghrib and ‘Isha prayers – which is mentioned in the foregone ruling – differs from person to person, for example if the time required to offer 2 Rak’ats passes from Zuhr, the specific timing of offering Zuhr prayer has ended for someone who is a traveler and has entered in the common timing of offering Zuhr and ‘Asr prayer, however for a person who is not traveling specific timing of offering prayer remains till the time required to offer 4 Rak’ats.  

746. If a person begins ‘Isha prayers by mistake before Maghrib prayers and realizes during the prayers that he has made an error, and whatever he has offered from the ‘Isha partially or completely is in the common timing, and if he has not yet gone into Ruku’ of the 4th Rak’at he should turn his Niyyat to Maghrib prayers and complete the prayers. Thereafter he will offer ‘Isha prayers. However, if he has entered Ruku’ of the 4th Rak’at he can continue to complete the ‘Isha prayers and thereafter pray Maghrib, and as per obligatory precaution, after offering Maghrib prayers one should offer ‘Isha prayer again. However, whatever he has offered is in the specific timing of Maghrib, and he has not yet gone into Ruku’ of 4th Rak’at, as per precautionary measures, he should turn his Niyyat to Maghrib prayers and complete the prayers, and should offer the Maghrib prayers again and thereafter he will offer ‘Isha prayers.  

747. The end of the time for ‘Isha prayers is midnight; and as per precautionary measures, the night is calculated from sunset till the Azaan of Fajr (Morning) prayers, not till sunrise. However, if one has not offered his Maghrib prayers and only time for 4 Rak’ats of ‘Isha is left before midnight – i.e. from sunset till the Azaan of Fajr – as per precautionary measures, one should offer his ‘Isha prayers and then one should offer his Maghrib prayers with the intention of complying with the order of Almighty Allah and should offer ‘Isha again. And if one has not offered his Maghrib prayers and only time for 4 Rak’ats of ‘Isha is left before midnight – i.e. from sunset till the sunrise – one should offer ‘Isha with the Niyyat of Reja’ and thereafter he will offer both Maghrib and ‘Isha with the Niyyat of Qadha.

748. If a person sinfully or because of a reason does not offer Maghrib or ‘Isha prayers till after midnight, he should, as an obligatory precaution, offer the prayers in question, before Fajr prayers, without making a Niyyat of ‘Ada (i.e. in time) or Qadha (i.e. after the lapse of time).