Authored by: Imran Ayub Lahori
❀ Sleeping Before Isha and Talking After Isha is Disliked
❶ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Barzah Aslami رضي الله عنه that:
"إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَكْرَهُ النَّوْمَ قَبْلَهَا وَالْحَدِيثَ بَعْدَهَا"
“Indeed, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم disliked sleeping before it (Isha) and talking after it.”
[Bukhari: 547, Kitab Mawaqit al-Salah: Bab Waqt al-Asr; Muslim: 647; Abu Dawud: 398; Tirmidhi: 168; Nasa'i: 1/262; Ibn Majah: 701; Ibn Khuzaymah: 346; Darimi: 1/298]
It is thus known that one should avoid sleeping before Isha and engaging in unnecessary conversations after Isha. However, in a narration from Hazrat Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه, it is stated that:
“One night I stayed at the house of Hazrat Maymunah رضي الله عنها (and the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was also there) so that I could see how he صلى الله عليه وسلم performed the night prayer.”
Hazrat Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه further states:
"فَتَحَدَّثَ النَّبِيُّ مَعَ أَهْلِهِ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ رَقَدَ"
“The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم spoke with his wife for a while and then went to sleep.”
[Abu Awanah: 2/315; ‘Abd al-Razzaq: 3862; Tabarani: 12165; Ibn Hibban: 2579]
In addition, it is narrated from Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه that:
“The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to discuss matters concerning the Muslims with Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه until late at night.”
[Sahih: al-Silsilah al-Sahihah: 2435; Ahmad: 1/389]
Apparently, these Ahadith may seem to contradict each other— the first mentions that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم disliked talking after Isha, while the others mention that he صلى الله عليه وسلم himself engaged in conversation after Isha. However, these narrations have been reconciled as follows:
According to Imam Nawawi رحمه الله and other scholars, talking after Isha is generally disliked, but if the conversation involves matters of goodness (such as inviting towards Islam or the welfare of Muslims), then it is permissible.
[al-Majmu‘: 3/44]
❀ Sleeping Before Isha and Talking After Isha is Disliked
❶ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Barzah Aslami رضي الله عنه that:
"إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَكْرَهُ النَّوْمَ قَبْلَهَا وَالْحَدِيثَ بَعْدَهَا"
“Indeed, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم disliked sleeping before it (Isha) and talking after it.”
[Bukhari: 547, Kitab Mawaqit al-Salah: Bab Waqt al-Asr; Muslim: 647; Abu Dawud: 398; Tirmidhi: 168; Nasa'i: 1/262; Ibn Majah: 701; Ibn Khuzaymah: 346; Darimi: 1/298]
It is thus known that one should avoid sleeping before Isha and engaging in unnecessary conversations after Isha. However, in a narration from Hazrat Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه, it is stated that:
“One night I stayed at the house of Hazrat Maymunah رضي الله عنها (and the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was also there) so that I could see how he صلى الله عليه وسلم performed the night prayer.”
Hazrat Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه further states:
"فَتَحَدَّثَ النَّبِيُّ مَعَ أَهْلِهِ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ رَقَدَ"
“The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم spoke with his wife for a while and then went to sleep.”
[Abu Awanah: 2/315; ‘Abd al-Razzaq: 3862; Tabarani: 12165; Ibn Hibban: 2579]
In addition, it is narrated from Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه that:
“The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to discuss matters concerning the Muslims with Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه until late at night.”
[Sahih: al-Silsilah al-Sahihah: 2435; Ahmad: 1/389]
Apparently, these Ahadith may seem to contradict each other— the first mentions that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم disliked talking after Isha, while the others mention that he صلى الله عليه وسلم himself engaged in conversation after Isha. However, these narrations have been reconciled as follows:
According to Imam Nawawi رحمه الله and other scholars, talking after Isha is generally disliked, but if the conversation involves matters of goodness (such as inviting towards Islam or the welfare of Muslims), then it is permissible.
[al-Majmu‘: 3/44]
