Until what time can the Maghrib (evening) prayer be performed?

The time for the Maghrib prayer begins with sunset and, according to Imam Abu Hanifa, continues until the remaining light on the horizon disappears after sunset. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The beginning of the time for the Maghrib prayer is sunset, and its end is the disappearance of the horizon.” (Tirmidhi, Salat, 114 [151]). In another narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed the Isha prayer after the disappearance of twilight. (Darqutni, as-Sunan, 1/495-496 [1037-1038])

According to Imam Abu Hanifa, the words ‘twilight’ or ‘horizon’ in these narrations refer to the whiteness that follows the redness. Imam Abu Hanifa also based his opinion on the hadith, “…The end of the time for the Maghrib prayer is when the horizon becomes dark.” (see Muslim, Masajid, 174 [612]).

According to Imam Abu Yusuf, Imam Muhammad, and the other schools of thought, the end time for the Maghrib prayer is when the redness after sunset disappears. This is because the ‘twilight’ mentioned in the hadith refers to the redness after sunset. Indeed, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Twilight is the redness. When it disappears, the prayer becomes obligatory.” (Darqutni, as-Sunan, 1/506 [1056])

Source: T.C. Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu