Message #10317

[Ruhi_Rose]

However, you mentioned the timed prayer is from sunset until night so we have that long to get the prayer in.  I remember reading once, cannot remember the verse at the moment, to start the prayer at sunset and keep going until night.

So I had the idea the prayer should last that long.

Does the Quran not say to keep praying from dusk until night?

You are getting confused and mixing things up because you are not focused on the topic.   

What I mentioned as in Verse 17:78 (quoted) is the timing for the Maghrib prayer.  Maghrib means sunset time or dhulook as-shams, when the sun goes down.  This is one of the five obligatory prayers to be offered everyday of every month, not just during Ramadan.  The Quran does not say to keep praying from dusk until night.  But what it says and means is to offer prayers between the time the sun goes down until the dark of the night.  That's exactly how long the time for Maghrib prayer lasts.  For example, if Maghrib or sunset time is at 7.00 in the evening, by 7.40 or 7.45 it's completely dark with no redness in the sky either.  This means the time for Maghrib prayer is over .. and this is the right time for breaking the fast because it's dark (or "leil" as in Arabic) by now.  Instead what most people are doing (mostly sunnis) is they begin eating as soon as the sunset time begins on their prayer calendar (and this is the time when the adhan is given for the call of Maghrib prayers) when it's still very bright.  One can even drive one's car at this time without putting on the headlights.  It's not night or leil at all.  Thus, the faithfuls intentionally break their fast at least 40 minutes prior to the given time.  No matter how many evidences you produce from the Quran, the sunnis will reject it as a gesture of loyalty to their imams and as a sign of stubbornness to go against the shiia practice.  Members of the shiia sect (which is much smaller than the sunni sect) do break their fast after Maghrib when it's dark.  This is the correct method.

The Maghrib prayer consists of 5 rakahs .. 3 fard and 2 sunnah (or nafl, however one wants to put it).  Along with supplications at the end, it takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes in total.  It's not a long prayer at all. 

Fasting is an obligatory form of worship for all adults who are physially and mentally normal.  Breaking every fast 40 (or more) minutes earlier every day is a sign of intentional disobedience.   Will Allah punish them or not?  I don't know.  It's entirely upto Him.  But needless to say, that's hardly the right argument nor a proper excuse to violate Allah's law. 

I absolutely understand Zainab's view point of trying to stay focused on the topic.  A little bit of wavering off-topic in discussions is fine which happens all the time.  But if the topic is about Iftar time and you get into the details of Maghrib prayer time, these are 2 different aspects and it will give rise to confusion definitely.