Maariv After Chatzos
Question
I’m wondering—can you still daven Maariv after chatzos? Does chatzos only matter for Shacharis, or also for Maariv?
Answer
Yes, it is permitted to daven Maariv after chatzos as the entire restriction of Chatzos which is the cutoff time for prayer only applies to the Shacharis prayer. However, the Maariv prayer may be prayed up until morning. Despite this, initially a man is required to recite the paragraph of Shema prior to midnight, and since he is ideally to do so within the framework of Maariv therefore initially one is to Daven Maariv before midnight. Furthermore, some Poskim rule that even the prayer of Shemoneh Esrei of Maariv is initially to be Davened before Chatzos.
Explanation:
The cutoff times of the prayers correspond to the cutoff time of the sacrifices in the temple. The prayer of Shacharis corresponds to the morning Tamid sacrifice, and since the time for the afternoon sacrifice began at midday, which corresponds to the Mincha prayer, therefore the prayer of Shacharis may only be recited until midday. This is in contrast to the prayer of Maariv which corresponds to the altars burning of the limbs of the sacrifices throughout the night, and hence it too can be recited throughout the night. Nonetheless, we do find a discussion amongst the authorities as to whether one is initially required to Daven Maariv prior to midnight, as explicitly stated in the first Mishneh in tractate Brachos that whenever a mitzvah can be done throughout the night we decree for it to initially be done before midnight in order so one not forget to do so. Now, this Mishna specifically mentions the nighttime Shema and makes no mention of the evening prayer. Furthermore, the first Mishneh in the fourth chapter of Brachos explicitly states that the evening prayer has no end time and may hence be prayed throughout the night. Accordingly, some Poskim argue that the initial midnight limitation does not apply to the evening prayer but only to its Shema recital, and so is implied from all the Poskim who omit any midnight restriction for Maariv. Other Poskim however argue that the initial midnight limitation applies to both Shema and the Maariv prayer. Practically, as we concluded above, men should always initially pray the evening prayers prior to midnight in order to recite the Shema before midnight within its proper setting in the evening prayers. However, if one could not do so then he is even initially to pray the evening prayers after midnight. This applies for both men and women.
Sources: See Piskeiy Teshuvos 235:10 See regarding saying Shema before midnight: Michaber O.C. 235:3; Mishneh Brachos 2a; M”A 235:10; Poskim who rule that Maariv may be said even initially until Alos: 1st Mishneh Brachos Perek Daled; Shabbos 10; Setimas Haposkim; Pnei Yehoshua Brachos 8; Tzelach on Brachos ibid; P”M 108 M”Z 3; Ashel Avraham Butchach 235; M”B 108:14; 235 in opinion of Rambam; Ketzos Hashulchan 27:4 footnote 13 in length; Orach Neman 108:7 Poskim who rule that even Maariv is initially to be said before Chatzos: Derech Hachaim 46 and 47; Aruch Hashulchan 235:12; M”B 235:27; Or Letziyon 2:15
