How quickly after Maghrib time starts must we pray Maghrib?

Question

As salaamu ’alaykum,

Answer

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما

In reference to your question, it has been mentioned in many ahaadith that the Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace) would pray Maghrib early. Consider the following hadith:

Raafi’ bin Khadeej (may Allah be pleased with him) reports, “We would pray Maghrib (with the Messenger) and after the prayer (there would still be enough sunlight that) we could see exactly where our arrows were (on the ground).

(Bukhari)

Based on the above hadith and many others similar to it, the fuqaha have mentioned that delaying Maghrib unnecessarily is makrooh tanzeehi (slightly disliked). However, to delay Maghrib until the horizon becomes completely dark and the stars become apparent would be makrooh tahreemi (extremely disliked). Consider the following narration:

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “My ummah will always be good as long as they do not delay Maghrib until the stars become apparent.”

(Abu Dawud)

والله اعلم

And Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.

Waqas Memon

Approved by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani