It is customary on Ereb Shabbat Hanukah to recite Minha before lighting the Hanukah candles, and many synagogues conduct a Minha Gedola service early Friday afternoon for this purpose. This custom is mentioned by numerous Poskim, including the Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), and Rav Haim Palachi (1788-1868) in his Mo’ed Lo’kol Hai.
Two reasons are given for this practice. The Hid"a (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1806), in his Birkei Yosef, explains that in the Bet Ha’mikdash, the afternoon Tamid sacrifice was offered before the kindling of the Menorah. As the Hanukah candles parallel the kindling of the Menorah in the Bet Ha’mikdash, it is proper to light them after the Minha prayer, which is recited in lieu of the offering of the afternoon Tamid.
The Hafetz Haim (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933), in Sha’ar Ha’siyun (679), cites a different reason in the name of the Peri Megadim (Rav Yosef Teomim, 1727-1793). On Ereb Shabbat Hanukah, we light candles before sunset, during the period between the point of Pelag Ha’minha and sunset, since we obviously are not permitted to light candles after sunset. By lighting the Hanukah candles at that time, one is, in effect, proclaiming that nighttime has already begun, since he lights the candles required that night. Therefore, after lighting, one can no longer recite Minha, the afternoon prayer. The Peri Megadim writes that reciting Minha after lighting Hanukah candles would constitute a "Tarteh De’satri" – an inherent contradiction, as one performs a Misva relevant to the daytime (Minha) after performing a Misva relevant to the nighttime (Hanukah candles).
In his Mishna Berura, the Hafetz Haim writes that one should preferably try to follow this practice, but if one ended up lighting Hanukah candles before reciting Minha, he may still recite Minha. He adds that one should make a special effort to recite Minha before candle lighting if he lights early, at the time of Pelag Ha’minha.
Rav Natan Ben-Senor (contemporary), in his Ner Sion, offers an explanation for this final point – that it is especially important to recite Minha first if one lights Hanukah candles early. If one lights already at the time of Pelag Ha’minha, then, as mentioned, he is in effect expressing that Halachic nighttime has already begun, that he considers this period as evening time. As such, he would be contradicting himself if he then recites Minha. This is not the case, however, if one lights the Hanukah candles later, just before Shabbat candle lighting. If one lights at that time, he is not necessarily proclaiming that nighttime has already begun. Rather, he is lighting before sunset because he has no choice, since he cannot light once Shabbat begins. Since he lights at the latest possible moment – just before lighting the Shabbat candles – his lighting does not indicate that he regards this time as evening. He still considers that period daytime, and he lights Hanukah candles then only because he has no other option. Therefore, he is not contradicting himself if he then recites Minha.
Of course, according to the reason given by the Hid"a, all this is immaterial, and in any event one should recite Minha before Hanukah candle lighting. But according to the reason given by the Peri Megadim, one could argue that this applies only if one lights earlier, but not if one lights later.
Regardless, it is certainly preferable to follow this practice, though, as mentioned, when necessary one might recite Minha after lighting Hanukah candles.
At the end of Shabbat Hanukah, some have the custom to use the Habdala candle to light the Hanukah candles. This custom is mentioned by the Kaf Ha’haim (Rav Yaakob Haim Sofer, Baghdad-Israel, 1870-1939). This follows the general rule that whenever something is used for a Misva, we should try to then use it for other Misvot.
Summary: It is preferable on Ereb Shabbat Hanukah to recite Minha before lighting the Hanukah candles, particularly if one lights the Hanukah candles early, around the time of Pelag Ha’minha. Nevertheless, if one lit the Hanukah candles before reciting Minha, he may nevertheless still recite Minha.
