By Asma bint Shameem
People living in Europe, Asia, Australia or Africa are expected to see an “spectacular solar eclipse”.
Everyone is so excited!
They've been talking about it for days.
They “can’t wait” to witness this spectacular phenomenon, something Space watchers have called a “Ring of Fire”
It’s the ‘talk’ of the social media, some are making special plans for an ‘eclipse party’, some are gathering with family and friends so that they can watch and 'enjoy' these few moments together, to be 'entertained' by the night sky, laughing, joking, having a good time.
Now let's rewind and go back to another time, another place.
1400 years ago.
The desert sun was shining brightly when all of a sudden, darkness gathered in the middle of the day.
The sun could no longer be seen.
It was also a solar eclipse.
At that moment, what did the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) do?
What did the Sahaabah do?
Did they all gather together to ' witness this spectacular phenomenon'?... so that they can 'enjoy' these few moments together?..... to be 'entertained' by the afternoon sky, laughing, joking, having a good time?
NO. Not at all.
Rather, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) rushed to the Masjid, gathered all the Sahaabah and *prayed*.
They *humbled* themselves to the Lord of the worlds and prayed a special prayer called Salaat al-Kusoof.
They were bowing and prostrating, beseeching Allaah to forgive them, asking for His Mercy, hoping for His forgiveness.
They gave in charity and rushed to do other good deeds.
WHY?
Weren't they impressed by this awesome phenomenon?
They were....but in a *different* way.
The eclipse was a sign, among the signs of Allaah, that reminded them of the Greatness, the Supremacy, the Ultimate POWER of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala over all things.
"And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allaah Who created them, if you (really) worship Him"
(Surah Fussilat: 37)
And the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
"The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of the death of someone from the people but they are two signs amongst the signs of Allah. When you see them, stand up and pray." (al-Bukhaari)
The eclipse was a *reminder* for them of a day not so far away.....a day that mankind would have to face when the sun would really lose its light and the moon would be eclipsed, the stars would fall and there will be no place to flee.
Abu Musa radhi Allaahu anhu said:
"The sun eclipsed and the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) got up, being afraid that it might be the Hour (Day of Judgment). He went to the Masjid and offered a prayer with the longest Qiyaam, bowing and prostration that I had ever seen him doing.
Then he said, "These signs which Allaah sends do not occur because of the life or death of somebody, but Allaah makes His worshippers afraid by them.
So when you see anything thereof, proceed to remember Allaah, invoke Him and ask for His forgiveness."
(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)
They were afraid that the eclipse might be a WARNING from Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala, a precursor to an affliction, such as famine, disease, etc., by means of which Allaah makes His slaves afraid.
So they turned to Allaah at this time of fear, making du’aa’ and seeking His forgiveness, hoping it will remove the cause of His Wrath.
They remembered what Allaah said in His Book:
“And We sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid (of destruction)”
( Surah al-Israa’ :39)
Eclipses may be a natural phenomenon but the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) and the Sahaabah understood the seriousness of the issue of eclipses.
They knew its no time for fun and games.
After the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) finished praying, and the eclipse was over he addressed the people, then he said:
“O Ummah of Muhammad, by Allaah there is no one more jealous than Allaah when His slave, male or female, commits zina. O Ummah of Muhammad, if you knew what I know you would laugh little and weep much.’” (al-Bukhaari)
Remember, a lunar or solar eclipse is not a time to be 'entertained' by the moon or the sun, nor is it a time to gather and have a 'good time' or ‘party’.
Nor is it a time to be *superstitious*.
Rather it is a time be solemn and grave, to pray to Allaah and turn to Him for forgiveness and Mercy.
Sure, we can look at the eclipse, but look at it to REMIND yourself.
REFLECT on the eclipse.
Surely, it is a superb phenomenon indeed.
But it only serves to increase the Imaan of the believer.......How Powerful is the One who can subjugate His creation, such as the moon and the sun to serve Him and obey Him!
Subhaan Allaah!
How Mighty is the one who controls these humongous creations of His and how Great is His Command!
Remember the Day when the sun will be extinguished and the moon will be eclipsed.....just like its supposed to tonight.
The only difference is....
THIS time it will END in a few hours.
And at THAT time.....it won't.
"When will the Day of Resurrection be?' he asks.
But, when the sight shall be dazed,
And the moon will be eclipsed,
And the sun and moon are gathered together (folded up, deprived of their light)
On that Day the human will ask: 'To (which place) shall I flee?
No, there shall be no (place of) refuge.
For on that Day the refuge shall be to your Lord (alone).
On that Day the human shall be informed of his former and latter deeds.
He shall be a clear proof against himself,
even though he offers his excuses." (Surah Qiyaamah: 6-15)
What to do?
So turn to Allaah at times like these and others, remembering Him,
- seek His forgiveness.
- Make a lot of duaa,
- give sadaqah,
- read Qur’aan,
- do good deeds and
- pray the Eclipse prayer.
- And clarify in your mind all superstitions associated with eclipses such as shutting yourself inside the home, or that eclipses may cause birth defects in babies, or that it will cause harm to pregnant women, etc.
In congregation or alone
Shaikh Salih al-Munajjid said:
“It is sunnah to pray the Eclipse prayer (Salaat al-Kusoof) in congregation,
because this is what the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam did.
But if someone wants to pray it on their own at home, that’s also allowed.
However, praying it in congregation is better.”
How to pray the Eclipse prayer
The Eclipse prayer is Sunnah Mu’akkadah and is a two Rak’ah prayer.
But it has two rukoo in EACH rak’ah.
How to pray this prayer step by step :
- say Allaahu Akbar and enter into the prayer
- Read the opening duaa, and al-Faatihah as you would for any prayer.
- then after al-Faatihah, read Qur’aan making the recitation LONG.
(If you’re praying by yourself, you may look into the
Mus-haf and read directly)
- go into rukoo, making it lengthy
- rise from rukoo saying the dhikr as you would for any other prayer. (“Sami‘a Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa laka al-hamd”)
- Then instead of going into sajdah, you will start reading al-Faatihah AGAIN, followed by another lengthy recitation of the Qur’aan.
But this time, don’t make it as long as the first recitation.
- then go into rukoo again, making it lengthy but not as long as the first time.
- rise from rukoo as usual saying “Sami‘a Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa laka al-hamd”
and stand for a long time making duaa.
- go into sajdah twice (as usual), making each sajdah lengthy.
- Then get up for the second rak‘ah, and do the same as you did in the first rak‘ah, bowing twice and so on, but each action is not as long as in the first.
- Then sit for tashahhud and say the tasleem as you would for any other prayer.
So all together, there are FOUR rukoo and FOUR sujood.
Important points
- *only those people who can SEE the eclipse, or are in the region where the eclipse is happening, will read this prayer.*
*Just because you “know” that an eclipse is happening somewhere in this world does not count.*
That’s because the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
“When you SEE that, then pray.” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)
Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:
“ It should also be noted that it is not prescribed for the people who live in a country where the eclipse is not happening to offer the prayer, because the Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam connected the command to pray etc to actual sighting of the eclipse, not to news from astronomers that an eclipse was going to happen, or to its happening in another country. Allaah says:
“And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)” [al-Hashr 59:7]
If it was prescribed to offer the eclipse prayer on the basis of astronomers’ reports, or when an eclipse occurs in another region that is only seen by the local inhabitants, then he would have said so and would have guided his ummah to do that. Since he did not say that, rather he said the opposite, and he told his ummah to base their actions on actual sighting of the eclipse, we know from that that this prayer is only prescribed for those who see the eclipse and in whose land it occurs.” (Kitaab Majmoo’ Fataawa Wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah Li Samaahat , 13/30)
*So for Sunday’s eclipse, people in North America will not pray this prayer*, because this eclipse can only be seen in Asia, Europe and Africa and Australia.
According to the experts:
“Regions seeing, at least, a partial eclipse: South/East Europe, Much of Asia, North in Australia, Much of Africa, Pacific, Indian Ocean.”
- pray this prayer at the TIME of the eclipse, AS it is happening, and try and pray as long as the eclipse lasts.
- if you’re done early before the eclipse ends, keep yourself busy with dhikr, Istighfaar etc
And Allaah knows best.
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