סימן עו סעיף א
נוֹהֲגִין לְהַקְדִּים תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית שֶׁל שַׁבָּת יוֹתֵר מִבִּימוֹת הַחֹל, וְנָכוֹן הוּא כְּדֵי לְהַקְדִּים קַבָּלַת שַׁבָּת בְּכָל מַה שֶּׁאֶפְשָׁר, רַק שֶׁיְהֵא מִפְּלַג הַמִּנְחָה וּלְמַעְלָה. וְאַף הַנּוֹהֲגִין לְהִתְפַּלֵּל כָּל יְמֵי הַחֹל מַעֲרִיב בִּזְמַנָּהּ, דְּהַיְנוּ בְּצֵאת הַכּוֹכָבִים, יְכוֹלִין לְהַקְדִּים בְּשַׁבָּת. וַאֲפִלּוּ שֶׁלִּפְעָמִים בִּימוֹת הַחֹל מִתְפַּלְּלִין מִנְחָה בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁמִּתְפַּלְלִין עַתָּה עַרְבִית, אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין בָּזֶה בִּתְפִלַּת עַרְבִית שֶׁל שַׁבָּת, שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּה מִצְוָה, שֶׁמּוֹסִיף מֵחֹל עַל הַקֹּדֶשׁ.
It is customary to pray the Maariv prayer of Shabbos earlier than on weekdays. It is proper to do so in order1See Maseches Shabbos (118a). In Talmudic times, the custom was to usher in the Shabbos with the saying of Barechu (the start of Maariv [Bach 267]. to usher in the Shabbos as early as possible—so long as it is done from Pelag haMinchah21-1/4 hours before sunset. onwards. And even those accustomed to praying Maariv on time during weekdays, which is when3Three small stars. They must be close together and not scattered. the stars appear, may pray earlier on Shabbos. Although sometimes on weekdays the Minchah prayer is said at the same time at which Maariv will now be said, it does not matter4If you wish to pray Maariv earlier, you must pray Minchah before pelag haminchah [Magein Avraham 267: 1]. The Siddur Derech Hachaim holds that a congregation may be lenient and pray both Minchah and Maariv after pelag. Mishnah Berurah however rules that we may not rely on this unless we pray Maariv at twilight [after sunset]. with regard to the Maariv prayer of Shabbos,5Since we are now accustomed to welcome the Shabbos at the Kabbalas Shabbos service we have no reason to pray Maariv earlier than its regular time. for it is a mitzvah to add time to the holy [Shabbos.]6If you pray Maariv after pelag even privately, you must accept the holiness of Shabbos, even if you do not wish to welcome the Shabbos yet [see Shulchan Aruch 263: 11]. 7Rabbeinu Tam says this is a mitzvah derabanan (Rabbinical precept), but Rabbeinu Yaakov of Kurbil and Rosh maintain that it is de’oraisa (a Biblical precept).
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא שנאמר הליכות עולם לו אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות (נדה ע"ג.)