How long should one delay the Maghrib prayer after eating Iftar?

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

It is commendable to perform Maghrib early except on cloudy days.  It is therefore recommended that Maghrib Salah is performed straight after Iftar without further delay.  If delays Maghrib after Iftar for the duration in which can pray two Rak’ats Salah then it is completely valid, and if the delay was more than that then it is Makrooh Tanzeehi but if it was delayed for such a lengthy duration that the stars became clearly visible then it’s Makrooh Tahreemi; as it has been cited in Fatawa Hindiyyah:

“وَيُسْتَحَبُّ تَعْجِيلُ الْمَغْرِبِ فِي كُلِّ زَمَانٍ“

Performing Maghrib early is recommended at all times.

[Fatawa Hindiyyah Vol. 1, p. 52]

Imam Ahle Sunnat Maulana Shah Imam Ahmed Raza Khan – may Allah be pleased with him – has stated in Fatawa Ridawiyyah as follows:

اِس( یعنی مغرِب) کا وَقتِ مُستَحب جب تک ہے کہ ستارے خوب ظاہِر نہ ہو جائیں ، اتنی دیر کرنی کہ(بڑے بڑے ستاروں کے علاوہ) چھوٹے چھوٹے ستارے بھی چمک آئیں مکروہ (تحریمی)ہے۔

The recommended time of Maghrib is until the stars become clearly visible, and delaying it so long that even the smaller stars become visible is Makrooh (Tahreemi).

[Fatawa Ridawiyyah Vol. 5, p. 153]

The following has been mentioned is Bahaare Shari’at:

روز ابر(جس دن بادل چھائے ہوں)کے سوا مغرب میں ہمیشہ تعجیل مستحب ہے اور دو رکعت سے زائد کی تاخیر مکروہِ تنزیہی اور اگر بغیر عذر سفر و مرض وغیرہ اتنی تاخیر کی کہ ستارے گُتھگئے، تو مکروہ ِتحریمی۔

Performing Maghrib early is Mustahab except on cloudy days, and delaying it more than the duration of offering two Rak’at Salah is Makrooh Tanzeehi, and if delayed it for longer that the stars became visible without any valid excuse of travel or illness, then it is Makrooh Tahreemi.

[Bahaare Shariat Vol. 1, p. 453]

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Musjidul Haq Research Department ( musjidulhaq.com )

Read the original answer in Urdu here – [Q-ID0494] How long should delay the Maghrib prayer after eating Iftar?

Also see:

[Q-ID0350] Should the dua of Iftaar be recited before or after eating?