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What Is the Islamic View on When Night Begins?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org

Answered by Sidi Abdullah Anik Misra

Question: Asalamualaykum,

Islamically, when does night begin?

JazakAllahkhair.

Answer: Wa alaikum salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

The night (Arabic: al-layl) begins as soon as the day (Arabic: al-nahaar) ends, which is at the time of sunset, or Maghrib [Maraqi al-Falah, al-Shurunbulali].  This is when the disc of the sun completely disappears below the Western horizon, and there is glowing darkness on the Eastern horizon [Radd al-Muhtar, Ibn ‘Abideen].  There is still some light at sunset for some time during Maghrib, until darkness completely sets in.

The notion that the night only starts after complete darkness, or at the time for ‘Isha, is not correct.  Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur’an, “… and then complete your fast up until the night.” [al-Qur’an 2:187], and by consensus, the fast is broken at sunset (Maghrib), making sunset the time when the night begins.

This is corroborated by the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that, “When the night enters from here [ie. the darkness of night on the Eastern horizon], and the day leaves from there [ie. on the Western horizon] and the sun has set, then one fasting should break his fast.”  [Saheeh, al-Bukhari]

And Allah knows best.

Wasalam,

Abdullah Anik Misra

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani

This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.

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