Is it permissible for the Imam of the mosque to delay the Isha prayer by about an hour in the month of Ramadan?
The time for the Isha prayer extends from the disappearance of the red twilight until midnight. It is preferable to delay it unless it causes hardship to the worshipers, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Were it not that I would overburden my Ummah, I would have commanded them to delay Isha prayer until one-third of the night or half of it." The Prophet (peace be upon him) once delayed the Isha prayer one night until the people in the mosque fell asleep. Then he came out and prayed, saying: "Indeed, it is its time, were it not that I would overburden my Ummah." The Prophet (peace be upon him) would hasten the Isha prayer if people had gathered and delay it if they were slow.
It is permissible to delay the Isha prayer in Ramadan beyond its early time by about half an hour to allow people to break their fast and prepare for prayer, provided that this does not cause hardship to the congregants. The best approach is to consult the mosque's administration and agree with them on the prayer time.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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