Abu Bakr bin Abi Musa narrated that his father said: "A man came to the Prophet ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) asking him about the times of prayer, and he did not answer him. He told Bilal to say the Iqamah at dawn broke, then he told him to say the Iqamah for Zuhr when the sun had passed its zenith and a person would say: 'It is the middle of the day,' but he (the Prophet ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم )) knew better. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for 'Asr when the sun was still high. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for Maghrib when the sun had set. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for 'Isha' when the twilight had dissapeared. Then the next day he told him to say the Iqamah for Fajr, at a time such that when after he had finished one would say: 'The sun has risen.' Then he delayed Zuhr until it was nearly the time of 'Asr compared to the day before. Then he delayed 'Asr, to a time such that when he finished one would say: 'The su has turned red.' Then he delayed Maghrib until the twilight was about to disappear. Then he delayed 'Isha' until one-third of the night had passed. Then he said: 'The time (for prayer) is between these times.'"

Al-Husain bin Bashir bin Sallam narrated that his father said: "Muhammad bin 'Ali and I entered upon Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari. We said to him: 'Tell us about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ).' That was at the time of Al-Hajjaj bin Yusuf. He said: 'The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) came out and prayed Zuhr when the sun had passed its zenith and the shadow (of a thing) was the length of a sandal-strap. Then he prayed 'Asr when the shadow of a man was the length of a sandal-strap plus his height. Then he prayed Maghrib when the sun had set. Then he prayed 'Isha' when the twilight disappeared. Then he prayed Fajr when dawn broke. The next day he prayed Zuhr when a man's shadow was equal to his height. Then he prayed 'Asr when a man's shadow was twice his height, and (the time between the prayer and sunset) lasted as long as it takes a swift rider to reach Dhul-Hulaifah. Then he prayed Maghrib when the sun set, then he prayed 'Isha' when one-third or one-half of the night had passed'" - (One of the narrators) Zaid, was not sure - "then he prayed Fajr when it had become bright."

Sayyar bin Salamah said: "I entered upon Abu Barzah, and my fatehr asked him: 'How did the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) pray the prescribed prayers?' He said: 'He used to pray Zuhr, which you call Al-Uula (the first) when the sun passed its zenith; he used to pray 'Asr when one of us could go back to his hoome in the farthest part of Al-Madinah while the sun was still bright.' I forgot what he said about Maghrib. 'And he used to like to delay 'Isha', which you call Al-'Atamah, and he did not like to sleep before it nor talk after it. And he used to finish the Al-Ghadah (Fajr) prayer when a man could recognize his neighbor, and he used to recite (in it) between sixty and one hundred verses.'"

Jabir bin 'Abdullah said: "Jibril, peace be upon him, came to the Prophet ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) when the sun had passed its zenith and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray Zuhr when the sun has passed its zenith.' Then he waited until a man's shadow was equal to his height. Then he came to him for 'Asr and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray 'Asr.' Then he waited until the sunset, then he came to him and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray Maghrib.' So he got up and prayed it when the sun had set. Then he waited until the twilight disappeared, then he came to him and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray 'Isha'.' So he got up and prayed it. Then he came to him when dawn broke and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he got up and prayed Subh.' So he got up and prayed Subh. Then he came to him the next day when a man's shadow was equal to his height, and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he prayed Zuhr. Then Jibril came to him when a man's shadow was equal to twice his length and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he prayed 'Asr. Then he came to him for Maghrib when the sun set, at exactly the same time as the day before, and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he prayed Maghrib. Then he came to him for 'Isha' when the first third of the night had passed, and said: 'Get up and pray.' So he prayed 'Isha'. Then he came to him for Subh when it had become very bright, and said: 'Get up and pray.' So he prayed Subh. Then he said: 'The times of prayer one between those two (limits).'"

It was narrated that Muhammad bin 'Amr bin Hasan said: "Al-Hajjaj arrived, and we asked Jabir bin 'Abdullah, who said: 'The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) prayed Zuhr at the time of intense heat, [1] and 'Asr when the sun was white and clear, and Maghrib when the sun set, and with 'Isha' it would depend - if he saw that the people had gathered, he would pray early, and if he saw that they had not come yet, he would delay it.'" [1] Meaning, at the earliest time.

It was narrated that An-Nu'man bin Bashir said: "I am the most knowledgeable of people about the time of the 'Isha' prayer. The Prophet ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) used to pray it when the moon set on the third night of the month."

It was narrated that An-Nu'man bin Bashir said: "By Allah, I am the most knowledgeable of people about the time of the 'Isha' prayers. The Prophet ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) used to pray it when the moon set on the third night of the month."

Sayyar bin Salamah said: "My father and I entered upon Abu Barzah, and my father said to him: 'How did the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) pray the prescribed prayers?' He said: He used to pray Zuhr, which you call Al-Uala (the first) when the sun passed its zenith; he used to pray 'Asr then one of us could go back to his home in the farthest part of Al-Madinah when the sun was still bright.'" - He said: "I forgot what he said to me about Maghrib." - "And he used to like to delay 'Isha', which you call Al-'Atamah, and he did not like to sleep before it nor speak after it. And he used to finish the Al-Ghadah (Fajr) prayer when a man could recognize his neighbor, and he used to recite between sixty and one hundred verses.'"

It was narrated that Ibn Juraij said: "I said to 'Ata': 'What is the best time you think I should pray Al-'Atamah, either in congregation or on my own?' He said: 'I heard Ibn 'Abbas say: "The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) delayed Al-'Atamah one night until the people had slept and woken up, then slept and woken up again. Then 'Umar got up and said: 'The prayer, the prayer!'" 'Ata' said: 'Ibn 'Abbas said: "The Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) came out, and it is as if I can see him now, with water dripping from his head, putting his hand on the side of his head. [He said: "And he indicated (how)"] .'" I checked with 'Ata' how the Prophet ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) put his hand on his head, and he showed me the same way as Ibn 'Abbas had done. 'Ata' spread his fingers a little, then placed them with the tips of his fingers on his forehead, then he drew his fingers together on his head until his thumb touched the edge of the ear that is next to the face, then moved it to his temple and forehead, then he said: 'Were it not that I would impose too much difficulty for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to offer this prayer only at this time.'"

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: "The Prophet ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) delayed 'Isha' one night until part of the night had passed. Then 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, got up and called out: 'The prayer, O Messenger of Allah! The women and children have gone to sleep.' Then the Messenger of Allah ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) came out with water dripping from his head, saying: 'This is (the best) time (for 'Isha'), were it not that this would be too difficult for my Ummah.'"