QUESTION:
Just wanted to know is it permissible for a Hanafi to read Esha early behind a Shafi’ / Hanbali Imam even though there are Hanafi Masjids in the area? Their Esha is generally around 20-25 minutes earlier than the Hanafi Esha.
ANSWER:
There is difference of opinion regarding the commencement of Esha time in the Hanafi Madhab. The preferred view of Imaam Abu Hanifa Rahimahullah is that Esha commences when the white glow on the western horizon disappears. However, the view of Imaam Yusuf and Muhammad Rahimahumullah is that Esha time commences when the red glow on the western horizon disappears. This is also one view of Imaam Abu Hanifa Rahimahullah and the view of Imaam Shafi’ee Rahimahullah. The Fatwa is issued upon the preferred view of Imaam Abu Hanifa Rahimahullah i.e. Esha commences when the white glow on the western horizon disappears
Now coming to the queried scenario, Esha Salaah should be performed according to the preferred view in the Hanafi Madhab. In fact, Hadrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Saheb Gangohi Rahimahullah writes in Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah that one should repeat his Esha Salaah (as a precautionary measure) if Salaah was performed in the Shafi’ee time. [Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah Vol. 9 Pg. 60] In conclusion, Esha Salaah should be performed in the Hanafi Masajid where Salaah is performed according to the view of Imaam Saheb Rahimahullah.
وأول وقت المغرب إذا غربت الشمس وآخر وقتها مالم يغب الشفق وقال الشافعي رحمه الله مقدار ما يصلى فيه ثلاث ركعات لأن جبريل عليه السلام أم في اليومين في وقت واحد ولنا قوله عليه الصلاة والسلام أول وقت المغرب حين تغرب الشمس وآخر وقتها حين يغيب الشفق وما رواه كان للتحرز عن الكراهة ثم الشفق هو البياض الذي في الأفق بعد الحمرة عند أبي حنيفة رحمه الله تعالى وعندهما هو الحمرة وهو رواية عن أبي حنيفة وهو قول الشافعي لقوله عليه الصلاة والسلام الشفق الحمرة ولأبي حنيفة رحمه الله تعالى قوله عليه الصلاة والسلام وآخر وقت المغرب إذا اسود الأفق وما رواه موقوف على ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما ذكره مالك رحمه الله في الموطأ وفيه اختلاف الصحابة وأول وقت العشاء إذا غاب الشفق (الهداية 1/ 81)
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani
Date: 28 Safr 1446 / 02 September 2024
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
