Special mention of the time for the Isha Salat
The exact time of the Fajr Salat is outlined in 2:187. Equally, the time of the Wusta Salat is defined in 17:78. In contrast, there does not seem to be a specific Quranic verse that outlines the exact time for the Isha Salat. However, it can be shown that Quranic information in 11:114 and 2:187 give us the exact time for the Isha Salat as well.
We read in 11:114 that the Salat must be observed during the near parts of the night to the two ends of the day (sunrise and sunset). These are the parts of the night that are near sunrise and sunset:
Observe the Salat at the two ends of the day; and during the near parts of the night. 11:114
As is shown below, we have in 2:187 the exact time for Fajr, which is the part of the night near to sunrise, but what about the time for Isha?
The night and day phenomenon are caused by the spinning of the earth on its axis. The earth's spinning produces the apparent movement of the sun in our sky and the alternation of the night and day. The earth spins on its axis at a constant speed. This is a key factor here. The earth does not spin at one speed when sunrise is approaching, then suddenly changes speed after sunset! The uniform speed of the earth's spinning means that the two parts of the night, Fajr and Isha, where there is light in the sky (before sunrise and after sunset), must be identical in duration, only at opposite ends of the night.
The reader can verify this for himself by checking a prayer table and looking at the time duration of the Fajr Salat, and also the duration of the Isha Salat.
The reader can verify this for himself by checking a prayer table and looking at the time duration of the Fajr Salat, and also the duration of the Isha Salat.
On any given day of the year, and at the same geographical location, the duration of the Fajr Salat is identical to the duration of the Isha Salat.
p.s. The correct time of the Quranic Isha Salat is what the followers of the 5 Salat give to their Maghrib Salat, so in the table we should look for the time of the Maghrib Salat.
p.s. The correct time of the Quranic Isha Salat is what the followers of the 5 Salat give to their Maghrib Salat, so in the table we should look for the time of the Maghrib Salat.
It follows that the Quran needs only to give the definition of one of the 2 Salat near the ends of the day, for us to be able to calculate the exact time for the other one.
In 2:187 God gives us the definition of Fajr with the following words:
You may eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinguishable to you from the dark thread. 2:187
The words in 2:187 tell us that when the first thread of light is visible to us this is the beginning of Fajr (dawn).
If this is the beginning of Fajr, when is the end of Fajr? The answer is simple. Since Fajr is a part of the night, Fajr cannot extent beyond the end of the night. Thus, as soon as the night ends (at sunrise) this is also the end of Fajr.
Since Isha is the near part of the night to sunset, Isha starts as soon as the night starts, which is as soon as the sun has set. It also follows that Isha extends as long as there is light in the sky. It also follows that when the last thread of light disappears from the sky, this marks the end of Isha. Isha is a mirror image of Fajr but at the other end of the night.