Time for Mincha: Difference between revisions

# If one will only be able to make a minyan for mincha after six and a half hours and one won’t make a minyan after nine and a half hours, it’s preferable to pray with a minyan after six and a half hours. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 233:1, Yalkut Yosef (Brachot pg 639) </ref>

# If one prayed prior to six and a half hours one according to many has not fulfilled one’s obligation, however, some say that one has fulfilled obligation after the fact. <ref> Mishna Brurah 233:2 writes that this is implied from S”A 233:1 (and is agreed upon by many achronim), however there are some achronim who say that after the fact one has fulfilled one’s obligation. Kaf HaChaim 233:2 quotes the dispute of the achronim but concludes that because Tefillah is Derabbanan one doesn’t have to pray again. </ref>

# It’s preferable to pray Mincha before ten and three quarter hours. <Ref>Kaf HaChaim 233:3. BeYitzchak Yikra on Mishna Brurah 233:1 writes that according to the Rambam one shouldn’t pray mincha after ten and three quarter hours except in extenuating circumstances. Furthermore, he writes that it’s preferable to pray before ten and three quarter hours rather than pray with a minyan, however, the minhag is not like this. </ref>

# According to Rabbi Yehuda one must pray Mincha prior to ten and three quarter hours and the earliest time to pray Arvit/Mariv is ten and three quarter hours. According to Rabbanan mincha may be said until nighttime and the earliest time to pray Arvit/Mariv is nighttime. <Ref> The Mishna (Brachot 26a) writes that according to Rabbi Yehuda one must pray Mincha prior to ten and three quarter hours while according to Rabbanan mincha may be said until nighttime. Tosfot 27a (D”H Tah Shma) writes that according to Rabbi Yehuda the earliest time to say Mariv is ten and three quarter hours while according to Rabbanan the earliest time is nighttime. [This is also evident in the Gemara there (27a-b) and the upcoming Rishonim. The Maharsha (27a D”H Tah Shma) asks why Tosfot needed to prove something which was so obvious from the Gemara.] </ref> The halacha allows one to follow either opinion, however, one must be consistent and always follow Rabbi Yehuda or always follow Rabbanan. <Ref>The Gemara (27a) writes that since there’s no explicit ruling as to whom the halacha follows one who follows Rabbi Yehuda has done properly and one who follows Rabbanan has done properly. The Rabbenu Yonah (Brachot 18b D”H DeAved) writes that whichever opinion one follows one must be consistent and always follow the same opinion. This is also quoted by the Rosh (Brachot 4:3) in the name of a Goan. Additionally, the Kesef Mishna (Tefillah 3:4) says that this is implicit in the Rambam and furthermore that it’s the simple explanation of the words of the Gemara. This is also the ruling of Tur and S”A 233:1. </ref>

# A minyan may be lenient to take both the leniency of Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbanan to pray both Mincha and Arvit between ten and three quarter hours and nighttime, however, an individual may not do so. Nonetheless, it’s preferable for even the minyan to be consistent and pray Mincha before nighttime and Arvit after nighttime (according to the (general) minhag to follow Rabbanan). <Ref>Mishna Brurah 233:11 writes that in a minayn where there’s an excessive effort to get everyone back to shul for maariv (and people can’t wait in shul), then it’s permissible for a minyan to say maariv right after mincha (between Plag Mincha and nighttime). S”A 233:1 says the minhag is like Rabbanan and Rama 233:1 says the minhag is like Rabbi Yehuda. Nowadays, Piskei Teshuvot 233:4 writes that the Ashkenazic minhag is also like Rabbanan. </ref>

# If one prayed Arvit prior to ten and three quarter hours one has not fulfilled one’s obligation. <ref>Mishna Brurah 233:10, Kaf HaChaim 233:11 as is implied by S”A 233:1 </ref>

# If one only has the ability to pray Arvit with a minyan before Tzet HaCochavim one should pray with them (and not pray later oneself) as long as one makes sure to repeat Shema later after Tzet HaCochavim. When saying Shema with the minyan one shouldn’t have in mind to fulfill one’s obligation of Shema. <Ref>

* The Rif (Brachot 1b) rules that the time to say Kriyat Shema at night is from Tzet HaCochavim like the simple Mishna and Gemara Brachot 2a. The Rambam (Kriyat Shema 1:9) concurs.