Is it permissible or preferred to call the fifth obligatory prayer 'Atamah'?
Chapter on Prayer Times
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
The obligatory prayer is named 'Isha', and it is disliked to refer to it as 'Atamah'. Ibn 'Umar expressed anger upon hearing it called 'Atamah'. The basis for this is the Prophet's saying: 'Do not let the bedouins overpower you in the names of your prayers, for it is Al-'Isha', and they call it 'Atamah' because they delay work until late at night (Ya'tumun).' However, naming it 'Atamah' is permissible as it is connected to the time it is performed, similar to how other prayers are named by their time slots.