(39) باب وَقْتِ الْعِشَاءِ وَتَأْخِيرِهَا
'A'isha reported:
The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) one night delayed (observing the 'Isya' prayer) till a great part of the night was over and the people in the mosque had gone to sleep. He (the Holy Prophet) then came out and observed prayer and said: This is the proper time for it; were it not that I would impose a burden on my people (I would normally pray at this time). In the hadith transmitters by 'Abd al-Razzaq (the words are):" Were it not that it would impose burden on my people." (DE)
Reference (DE): Sahih Muslim 638 c (DE)
In-book reference (DE): Book 5, Hadith 281 (DE)
USC-MSA web (English) reference(deprecated numbering scheme): Book 4, Hadith 1333 (DE)