Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah

Also, if there is no fear of weakness for a weak person or illness for a sick person in the case of the Imam delaying the Isha prayer, such that their congregational prayer would be missed or delaying the prayer would make it difficult for them to attend the congregation, then it is recommended to delay the Isha prayer.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) delayed the ‘Isha prayer one night, so Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came out and said, “O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), (please lead) the prayer; the women and children have fallen asleep.” So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came out while drops of water were falling from his blessed head and he was shaking water off both his sides. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) was saying, “If I did not fear that I would put my Ummah in hardship, I would have commanded them to perform (this prayer) at this time.” (Ibn Jurayj or ‘Umar) — one of the two — narrated these words: “This is the time, if I did not fear that I would put my Ummah in difficulty and hardship.” These are the words of the hadith of ‘Abdul Jabbar when he combined the narration from Ibn Jurayj and ‘Umar ibn Dinar. And when he narrated only from Ibn Jurayj, he said: “This is the time, if I did not fear that I would put my Ummah in hardship.” Ahmad ibn ‘Abdah, in his narration, stated these words: “If I did not fear that I would put the believers in hardship, I would have commanded them to perform this prayer at this time.”

Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that one night the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) delayed the ‘Isha prayer, so Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) called out to him and said, “(O Messenger of Allah,) the women and children have fallen asleep.” So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to them and said: “None among the people of the earth is waiting for this prayer except you.” Imam Zuhri (may Allah have mercy on him) says that in those days only the people of Madinah used to offer this prayer.

Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that we were waiting for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for the ‘Isha prayer one night, when he came to us after a third of the night had passed. And we did not know what had kept him busy, whether it was something with his family or some other matter. When he came, he said: “Indeed, you are waiting for this prayer, and no followers of any other religion are waiting for it except you. And if I did not fear that it would be difficult for my Ummah, I would have led them (in this prayer) at this time.” Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the mu’adhdhin, so he gave the iqamah, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led the prayer.

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that we waited for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) for the 'Isha prayer until about midnight. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) came and led us in prayer and said: "Remain seated in your places. Indeed, people have gone to sleep. Indeed, from the time you have been waiting for the prayer, you have been in prayer continuously. And if it were not for the weakness of a weak person, the illness of a sick person, and the need of a needy person, I would have delayed this prayer until midnight." This is the narration of Bundar.