Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated: 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) called out to him: (O Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him) the prayer, the women and children have fallen asleep. So he came out while drops of water were falling from his head, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) was saying:“This is the (proper) time (for ‘Isha prayer), if I did not consider it difficult for my ummah.”

Ibn Jurayj narrated: I said to Ata’ (may Allah have mercy on him): At what time do you prefer the Imam and an individual to pray the ‘Isha prayer? He said: I heard Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) say: One night, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) delayed the ‘Isha prayer until the people fell asleep, then woke up, then fell asleep again, then woke up, then fell asleep again. Then Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said: Prayer, prayer! The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came out. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: It is as if I am looking at him, and drops of water were falling from his head, and he had placed his blessed hand on his head and was saying:“If I did not consider it difficult for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to pray at this (late) time.”