Muwatta Malik (Yahya)

Benefit:

That is, the prayer should be performed at its earliest time. Although there is flexibility in the times of prayer, the initial time of the prayer holds greater virtue, and as time passes, the virtue decreases. Therefore, a person should not deprive himself of this greatness and virtue by becoming entangled with his wife, children, or wealth. Furthermore, if a person intends to delay an obligatory prayer after its time has begun, there is always the risk that death or some other accident or calamity may become an obstacle to its performance...

It should be remembered that this narration is the statement of a Tabi‘i (rahimahullah). There are also some narrations of this meaning transmitted from the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), but their chains of transmission are weak. However, it has been established from the most authentic narrations that it is preferable and commendable to slightly delay the Zuhr prayer, especially in the summer, until it becomes a bit cooler, and to delay the ‘Isha prayer as much as possible until midnight.

«قَالَ يَحْيَى: قَالَ مَالِكُ: مَنْ أَدْرَكَ الْوَقْت وَهُوَ فِى سَفَرٍ، فَأَخَرَ الصَّلاةَ سَاهِياً أو نَاسِياً، حَتَّى قَدِمَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ، أَنَّهُ إِنْ كَانَ قَدِمَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ وَهُوَ فِي الْوَقْتِ فَلْيُصَلِّ صَلَاةَ المُقِيمِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ قَدْ قَدِمَ وَقَدْ ذَهَبَ الْوَقْتُ، فَلْيُصَلِّ صَلَاةَ الْمُسَافِرِ، لأَنَّهُ إِنَّمَا يَقْضِي مِثْلَ الَّذِي كَانَ عَلَيْهِ»

Imam Malik (rahimahullah) said: If the time for any prayer comes upon a person while he is traveling, but due to heedlessness or being occupied with some other work, he forgets and delays the prayer until he reaches his home (i.e., he transitions from the state of travel to the state of residence), then there are two scenarios: If he arrives home within the time of that prayer, he will perform the prayer as a resident (i.e., he will not be permitted to shorten the four-unit prayer or perform two units, but must perform the full four obligatory units). And if he arrives home after the time of the prayer has ended (while still traveling), then since he will now perform the missed (qada) prayer, he should perform it as a traveler (i.e., in the form of shortening and two units, only two units), because without doubt, he will make up (qada) for that which was obligatory upon him at the time it became due.

«قَالَ مَالِكٌ فِي مَنْ أَرَادَ سَفَرًا فَأَدْرَكَهُ الْوَقْتُ وَهُوَ فِي أَهْلِهِ، قَالَ: فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا خَرَجَ وَهُوَ فِي الْوَقْتِ، صَلَّى صَلاةَ الْمُسَافِرِ، وَإِذَا خَرَج وَقَدْ ذَهَبَ الوَقْتُ، وَلَمْ يَكُن صَلَّى فى أَهْلِهِ فَلْيُصَلِّ صَلَاةَ الْحَاضِرِ الأَنَّهُ إِنَّا يَقْضِي عَلَى قَدَرٍ مَا أَوْ جِبَ عَلَيْهِ. قَالَ مَالِكُ: وَهَذَا الأَمرُ هُوَ الَّذِي أَدْرَكْتُ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسَ وَأَهْلَ الْعِلْمِ بِبَلَدِنَا .»

Imam Malik (rahimahullah) said: If a person is present with his family (at home) and intends to travel, and the time for prayer comes in, then if the time for prayer comes as he is setting out for travel, he will perform the prayer as a traveler. But if he departs after the time has passed and has not performed the prayer at home, then he will perform the prayer as a resident, because he will make up (qada) for that which is obligatory upon him.

Imam Malik (rahimahullah) said that this is the very ruling and matter upon which I found the people (the Tabi‘in and the Tabi‘ Tabi‘in) and the scholars of my city (al-Madinah al-Munawwarah) practicing.

«وَقَالَ مَالِكٌ: الشَّفَقُ العُمْرَةُ الَّتِي فِي الْمَغْرِبِ، فَإِذَا ذَهَبَتِ الْحُمْرَةُ، فَقَدْ وَجَبَتْ صَلاةُ الْعِشَاءِ وَخَرَجْتَ مِنْ وَقْتِ الْمَغْرِبِ.»

Imam Malik (rahimahullah) said: Regarding the “shafaq” mentioned in the narration of ‘Umar (radi Allahu anhu), it refers to the redness that appears in the west (after the sun sets). When this redness disappears, the ‘Isha prayer becomes obligatory, and you will have exited the time of Maghrib prayer.