وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته

May Allāh reward you for your sincere efforts in seeking clarity on this issue. Since this question has been raised by several individuals, I took it as an opportunity to re-examine the matter and provide a balanced analysis and sound conclusion. I ask Allāh for His assistance and guidance. Your emails bring up several important questions, so I will address them accordingly in a question-and-answer format. ----------------------------------------------- Q1. When does ’Ishā begin? A1. The time for ’Ishā prayer begins with the disappearance of the shafaq (twilight). -> It comes in the ḥadīth of Abū Mūsā (may Allāh be pleased with him) that: ((ثم أمره فأقام العشاء حين غاب الشفق)) “Then he (ﷺ) instructed him (the mu'adhin) to call the ‘Ishā prayer when the shafaq had disappeared.” [Narrated by Muslim] -> Similarly, it comes in the ḥadīth of Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allāh be pleased with him): ((ثم صلى العشاء حين غاب الشفق)) “Then he prayed ‘Ishā when the shafaq had disappeared.” [Narrated by At-Tirmidhi; graded 'ḥasan' by Sheikh Albāni raḥimahullāh] -> Also, the ḥadīth of Jābir (may Allāh be pleased with him) states: ((ثم أتاه حين غاب الشفق، فتقدم جبريل، ورسول ﷺ خلفه، والناس خلف رسول الله ﷺ، فصلى العشاء)) “Then Jibrīl came to him when the shafaq had disappeared, and he led the prayer with the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) behind him, and the people behind the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ), and he prayed ‘Ishā.” [Narrated by An-Nasā'ī; graded 'ḥasan' by Sheikh Muqbil Al-Wādi‘ee raḥimahullāh] This is an issue of consensus, as Al-‘Amrāni raḥimahullāh stated: «وأول وقت العشاء إذا غاب الشفق بلا خلاف بين أهل العلم» “The beginning time of ‘Ishā is when the shafaq disappears, without any disagreement among the scholars.” [Al-Bayān' (29/2)] ----------------------------------------------- Q2. What does 'shafaq' refer to in the above context? A2. Shafaq refers to the light that appears in the western horizon after the setting of the sun. There are two types of shafaqs: (1) Shafaq aḥmar (red twilight), and (2) Shafaq abyaḍh (white twilight); the latter of which appears after the disappearance of the red twilight. [ref: Al-Muḥallā of Ibn Ḥazm (3/192)] While scholars agree that ‘Ishā begins with the disappearance of the shafaq, they have differed on which type of shafaq marks the end of Maghrib and the beginning of ‘Ishā, as stated by Ibn Qudāmah (may Allāh have mercy on him): «لا خلاف في دخول العشاء بمغيب الشفق، وإنما اختلفوا في الشفق ما هو» "There is no differing regarding the fact that ‘Ishā prayer begins with the disappearance of the shafaq; the difference of opinion lies only in the definition of what constitutes the shafaq." There are three scholarly opinions on this matter: 1⃣. The first opinion is that ash-shafaq refers to the red twilight (al-ḥumrah), and this is the view held by the majority of scholars. Among those who held this view are: Ash-Shāfi’ī, Ibn ’Umar, Ibn ’Abbās, Abū Hurayrah, ’Ubādah, and from the jurists: Mālik, Ath-Thawrī, Abū Yūsuf, and Muḥammad (the student of Abū Ḥanīfah). 2⃣. The second opinion is that ash-shafaq refers to the white twilight (al-bayāḍh), and this was the view of Anas, Abū Ḥanīfah, Al-Awzāʿī, and others. 3⃣. The third opinion is that of Imām Aḥmad, who said: If one is in the open desert, then the time for ‘Ishā begins with the disappearance of the red twilight; but if in an urban area with buildings, then it begins with the disappearance of the white twilight—this is due to the uncertainty. After mentioning the above three opinions, Sheikh ‘Abdulḥameed Az-Zu’kari concludes [Hibat As-Salām Sharḥ Bulūgh Al-Marām (1/51)]: The correct opinion is that ash-shafaq refers to the red twilight, because: 1-> The Prophet ﷺ defined the end time of Maghrib and the beginning time of ‘Ishā as the disappearance of the shafaq, without distinguishing between the red and the white.