Prohibition Of Saying The "Atamah Prayer" (Prayer Of Darkness)
Darussalam · Volume 1
(2) The Book OfThe PrayerSunan Ibn Majah Darussalam English translation
الحديث: 704 ¦ الجزء: 1 ¦ الصفحة: 230
Source no. 704 · Volume 2 · Page 276
Sahih
صحيح الثمر المستطاب
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704. It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "I heard the Messenger of Allâh ﷺ say: 'Do not let the Bedouin make you change the name of your prayer. It is the Ishâ', and they bring their camels in and milk them at nightfall.'" (Sahih)
704 - حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ، قَالَا: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي لَبِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «لَا تَغْلِبَنَّكُمُ الْأَعْرَابُ عَلَى اسْمِ صَلَاتِكُمْ، فَإِنَّهَا الْعِشَاءُ، وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيُعْتِمُونَ بِالْإِبِلِ»
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'Atamah in Arabic means darkness. Since the Bedouin used to bring their camels in for milking after darkness, they started calling the 'Ishâ' prayer the 'Atamah prayer.' However, we find the term 'Atamah' also appearing in some of the Ahâdîth. As such, the Prophet's command to this effect is to be taken as recommendatory rather than obligatory, i.e., it is preferable that we avoid calling it the 'Atamah prayer. And Allâh knows best.