Exact Answer: As soon as possible
Azan is the Arabic word that connotes the Muslim call to prayer. It is a congregational call that announces the time to offer prayers. It is recited by the muezzin at the mosque during certain prescribed times of the day. Generally, the azan is recited five times a day for Muslims to perform their obligatory prayers to Allah.
Isha, on the other hand, refers to an Islamic salah or prayer offered during the day. Sunset marks the beginning of the time allotted for this prayer. The Isha prayer must be completed before dawn. Another common name for the Isha prayer is the night prayer.
How Long After Azan Can You Pray Isha?
There is considerable contention within the Muslim community about the appropriate time to recite the Isha prayer. Some believe that it must be offered immediately after the evening azan. Some other segments focus on the midnight mark to offer the Isha prayer, while there are others who argue that the time to offer Isha expires at the time of the Tahajjud prayers.
The largest consensus and scriptural backing are in favor of the second contention. Most Muslims believe that the Isha prayer has to be offered before the passing of the midnight hour. Moreover, the scriptures emphasize that if it is possible then one must not delay the Isha prayer until just before midnight. Thus, the time begins after the Maghrib azan and continues till the midnight hour.
Now the calculation of midnight is a little tricky. The length of the night is different in different regions of the world and during the different seasonal changes. Believers are thus required to count the number of hours in a particular night and then divide it by half. This would signify the midnight hour. It is always recommended that the Isha prayer be completed before the last lap of the midnight hour.
Most Muslims complete offering the Isha prayers after 2 hours of the evening azan. Only in certain situations like when the person is sick or forgetful, the time for the Isha prayer can be extended up to dawn. However, if the person can offer the prayers before, it is always better to do so. The best avenue to offer the prayer is to pray Isha soon after the Maghrib azan and then go about your daily duties.
In Summary:
| Circumstances | Appropriate Time for Offering Isha |
| Normal Circumstances | 2 hours after azan (before midnight) |
| Extraordinary Circumstances | Before the Fajr (dawn) azan |
Why Do You Have to Pray Isha So Long After Azan?
Azan is the public call to offer prayers. Thus, when it is recited, every Muslim is reminded of his or her pious duty of offering the timely prayer suited for that particular azan call. After the evening (8 pm) azan, it is important that they heed this call and pray the Isha.
Praying Isha as soon as possible after the evening azan is a tradition derived from the Prophet. According to the teachings of Prophet Mohamed, the preferred time for Isha prayers extends only until the middle of the night.
Isha is to be prayed within the first one-third of the night because of the scriptural backing this clause has within the Islamic doctrines. According to the religious teachings of Islam, able-bodied persons should not delay prayers. When they postpone prayers, they are committing a sin in the eyes of Allah.
Only a sick person or someone under extraordinary circumstances can postpone Isha until before dawn. This is a time for those in ‘darurah’, i.e. those suffering under extreme circumstances or sickness. Since it becomes difficult to keep a tab on the passing hours of the day and wake up on time for prayers when one is sick or menstruating, this leeway is allowed.
During certain times, the Maghrib and Isha prayers can also be combined. Again this is allowed when the individual in question is traveling or in an extraneous predicament. When one is confused about the exact time for Isha and cannot hear the azan, it is best to rely on the calendar timings specified on the digital platforms that class the correct midnight hour calculation for each region of the world according to their specific time zone locations.
Conclusion
The central tenets of Islam postulate that a Muslim has to offer prayers to Allah five times a day. The azan is a reminder and a call to offer these prayers at their stipulated times during the course of the day. The recitation of the azan at the mosques reminds Muslims that it is now time to offer their prayers.
The Isha prayer is offered after the evening azan. There is no stipulated waiting time after azan for the Isha prayer to be recited, but the rule is that one must complete the prayer before midnight. The thumb rule for those in extraneous circumstances is that they can pray Isha before Fajr, i.e. it must be completed before dawn.