Mishkat al-Masabih #566
Prayer
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَوْلَا أَن أشق على أمتِي لأمرتهم أَنْ يُؤَخِّرُوا الْعِشَاءَ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ نصفه» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه
Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Were it not for causing distress to my people, I would command them to postpone the night prayer till a third or a half of the night had passed.”
Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
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About Mishkat al-Masabih
This hadith is #566 from Mishkat al-Masabih, in the Book of Prayer.