عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللّه عَنْهُ أَنَّهم انْتَظَرُوا النَّبِيَّ صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم فَجاءَهُمْ قريبًا مِنْ شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ فصلَّى بِهِم، يعني العِشَاءَ قَالَ: ثُمَّ خَطَبَنَا فَقَالَ: «أَلا إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ صَلُّوا، ثُمَّ رَقَدُوا، وَإِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَزَالُوا في صَلاةٍ ما انْتَظَرْتُمُ الصَّلاةَ» رواه البخاري.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that they waited for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he came to them near the middle of the night and led them—meaning in the Isha prayer. He said: Then he addressed us and said: "Behold, the people have prayed and then gone to sleep, but you will not cease to be in prayer so long as you are waiting for the prayer." Reported by al-Bukhari.
الشرح · explanation
شطر الليل: نصفه. في صلاة: أي يحصل لهم أجر الصلاة. ما انتظرتم: أي مدة انتظاركم.
"The middle of the night (shatr al-layl)": its half. "In prayer": that is, they earn the reward of prayer. "So long as you are waiting": that is, for the duration of your waiting.
الدروس · lessons
جواز الحديث واستحبابه بعد صلاة العشاء إذا كان في خير ويترتب عليه مصلحة شرعية كتعليم العلم وتعلمه، وأيضًا الحديث مع الزوجة ومداعبتها إيناسًا وإكرامًا لها وتلطفًا بها. الحثّ على التبكير إلى المسجد وانتظار الصلاة حتى يحصل على المزيد من الأجر والثواب.
The permissibility, indeed the recommendation, of conversation after the Isha prayer when it is about something good and yields a legitimate benefit, such as teaching and learning knowledge; likewise conversing with one's wife and being playful with her to comfort, honor, and be gentle with her. A call to go early to the mosque and to wait for the prayer, so as to gain more reward and recompense.