Does the Beginning of the Next Prayer Time Invalidate My Ongoing Prayer?

Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi

Question

Due to an impurity that took a long time to clean up, I prayed maghrib quite late. When I was on my second to last cycle of prayer, the time for the ‘isha prayer came in.

Is my prayer valid?

Is it obligatory upon me to ask for forgiveness for this even though there wasn’t a lot I could do?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Yes, your maghrib prayer was valid despite the fact that you didn’t finish praying within the time.

In the Hanafi school, the only prayer (from the five daily prayers) that won’t be valid if not finished before the exiting of its time is the Fajr prayer. [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah]

Asking for Forgiveness

It is important to have humility and acknowledge our shortcomings in worshipping Allah Most High as He deserves to be worshipped.

The Prophets (Allah bless them and give them all peace) are protected from major and minor sins, before and after prophethood.  [Dardir, Sharh al-Kharida al-Bahiyya]

Nonetheless, Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him) related that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “By Allah, I ask forgiveness of Allah and I turn in repentance to Him more than seventy times a day.” [Bukhari]

You can always do things better. Sometimes you are aware of your mistakes but sometimes you are not. Human beings are weak and fallible. It is important to acknowledge through repentance our inability to worship Allah Most High as He deserves.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam,
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani