I have come across a narration in Sunan Tirmidhi, which states that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) offered optional Salah after Maghrib until ‘Isha. Is this authentic?
Answer
You are probably referring to the Hadith recorded by Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) on the authority of Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) which has the following words:
“I came to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and prayed Maghrib with him. He [continued] offering [optional] Salah until he read ‘Isha after which he left…”
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3781. Declared sound -hasan- by Imam Tirmidhi)
Imam Ahmad, Imam Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahumullah) and others have also recorded this Hadith.
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5 pg. 391/2, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 5982 and Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 6960 and 7126)
Also see here
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar