Eclipses

‘Amr ibn ‘Awn narrated to us; he said: Khalid narrated to us, from Yunus, from al-Hasan, from Abu Bakrah, who said: We were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) when the sun was eclipsed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood, dragging his cloak, until he entered the mosque. We entered, and he prayed two units with us, until the sun had cleared. Then he said: ‘The sun and the moon do not eclipse for anyone’s death. When you see them, pray and supplicate until what has come upon you is lifted.’

Shihab ibn ‘Abbad narrated to us; Ibrahim ibn Humayd narrated to us, from Isma‘il, from Qays, who said: I heard Abu Mas‘ud say: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of anyone’s death, but they are two of Allah’s signs. When you see them, stand and pray.’

Asbagh narrated to us; he said: Ibn Wahb informed me; he said: ‘Amr informed me, from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Qasim, who related to him from his father, from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), who used to report from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): ‘The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life. Rather, they are two of Allah’s signs. When you see them, pray.’

‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad narrated to us; he said: Hashim ibn al-Qasim narrated to us; he said: Shayban Abu Mu‘awiyah narrated to us, from Ziyad ibn ‘Ilaqah, from al-Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah, who said: The sun was eclipsed during the Messenger of Allah’s lifetime, on the day Ibrahim died. The people said: ‘The sun has been eclipsed because Ibrahim died.’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life. When you see them, pray and call upon Allah.’

‘Abd Allah ibn Maslamah narrated to us, from Malik, from Hisham ibn ‘Urwah, from his father, from ‘A’ishah, who said: The sun was eclipsed during the Messenger of Allah’s lifetime, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led the people in prayer. He stood and prolonged the standing, then bowed and prolonged the bowing. Then he stood and prolonged the standing, but it was shorter than the first standing. Then he bowed and prolonged the bowing, but it was shorter than the first bowing. Then he prostrated and prolonged the prostration. He did the same in the second unit as he had done in the first. Then he finished, when the sun had cleared, and addressed the people. He praised Allah and extolled Him, then said: ‘The sun and the moon are two of Allah’s signs; they do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life. When you see that, call upon Allah, proclaim His greatness, pray, and give charity.’ Then he said: ‘O community of Muhammad, by Allah, no one has a greater sense of protective honor than Allah when His male servant commits fornication or His female servant commits fornication. O community of Muhammad, by Allah, if you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much.’

Ishaq said: Yahya ibn Salih informed us; he said: Mu‘awiyah ibn Sallam ibn Abi Sallam al-Habashi al-Dimashqi narrated to us; he said: Yahya ibn Abi Kathir narrated to us; he said: Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf al-Zuhri informed me, from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: When the sun was eclipsed during the Messenger of Allah’s lifetime, a call was made: ‘The prayer is to be offered in congregation.’

Yahya ibn Bukayr narrated to us; he said: Al-Layth narrated to me, from ‘Uqayl, from Ibn Shihab. [A second chain:] Ahmad ibn Salih narrated to me; he said: ‘Anbasah narrated to us; he said: Yunus narrated to us, from Ibn Shihab, who said: ‘Urwah narrated to me, from ‘A’ishah, the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said: The sun was eclipsed during the Prophet’s lifetime, so he went out to the mosque and the people formed rows behind him. He said the takbir, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) recited a long recitation. Then he said the takbir and bowed for a long bowing. Then he said: ‘Allah hears whoever praises Him.’ He stood without prostrating and recited a long recitation, shorter than the first recitation. Then he said the takbir and bowed for a long bowing, shorter than the first bowing. Then he said: ‘Allah hears whoever praises Him; our Lord, to You is praise.’ Then he prostrated. Then he did the same in the second unit, completing four bowings in four prostrations. The sun cleared before he finished. Then he stood and extolled Allah as He is worthy, then said: ‘They are two signs of Allah. They do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life. When you see them, hasten to prayer.’ Kathir ibn ‘Abbas used to relate that ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) would relate, on the day the sun was eclipsed, a report like the report of ‘Urwah from ‘A’ishah. I said to ‘Urwah: ‘Your brother, on the day the sun was eclipsed in Madinah, did no more than two units like the morning prayer.’ He said: ‘Yes, because he missed the Sunnah.’

Sa‘id ibn ‘Ufair narrated to us; he said: Al-Layth narrated to us; ‘Uqayl narrated to me, from Ibn Shihab, who said: ‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr informed me that ‘A’ishah, the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), told him that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed on the day the sun was eclipsed. He stood and said the takbir, then recited a long recitation. Then he bowed for a long bowing, raised his head, and said: ‘Allah hears whoever praises Him.’ He remained standing as he was, then recited a long recitation shorter than the first. Then he bowed for a long bowing, shorter than the first unit. Then he prostrated with a long prostration. He did the same in the final unit. Then he said the taslim, when the sun had cleared. He addressed the people and said concerning the eclipse of the sun and moon: ‘They are two signs of Allah. They do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life. When you see them, hasten to prayer.’

Qutaybah ibn Sa‘id narrated to us; he said: Hammad ibn Zayd narrated to us, from Yunus, from al-Hasan, from Abu Bakrah, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘The sun and the moon are two signs of Allah. They do not eclipse because of anyone’s death, but Allah Most High frightens His servants by means of them.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah said: ‘“Allah frightens His servants by means of them” was not mentioned by ‘Abd al-Warith, Shu‘bah, Khalid ibn ‘Abd Allah, or Hammad ibn Salamah, from Yunus.’ Musa corroborated him, from Mubarak, from al-Hasan, who said: ‘Abu Bakrah informed me, from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Allah Most High frightens His servants by means of them both.”’ Ash‘ath corroborated him from al-Hasan.

‘Abd Allah ibn Maslamah narrated to us, from Malik, from Yahya ibn Sa‘id, from ‘Amrah bint ‘Abd al-Rahman, from ‘A’ishah, the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): A Jewish woman came to ask her something and said to her, ‘May Allah protect you from the punishment of the grave.’ ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): ‘Will people be punished in their graves?’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, seeking refuge with Allah from that. Then one morning the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) mounted a riding animal. The sun was eclipsed, and he returned in the forenoon. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed among the rooms, then stood to pray, and the people stood behind him. He stood for a long time, then bowed for a long time. Then he rose and stood for a long time, shorter than the first standing. Then he bowed for a long time, shorter than the first bowing. Then he rose and prostrated. Then he stood for a long time, shorter than the first standing. Then he bowed for a long time, shorter than the first bowing. Then he stood for a long time, shorter than the first standing. Then he bowed for a long time, shorter than the first bowing. Then he rose, prostrated, and finished. He said whatever Allah willed him to say, then commanded them to seek refuge from the punishment of the grave.

Abu Nu‘aym narrated to us; he said: Shayban narrated to us, from Yahya, from Abu Salamah, from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amr, who said: When the sun was eclipsed during the Messenger of Allah’s lifetime, a call was made: ‘The prayer is to be convened.’ The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed two bowings in one prostration, then stood and performed two bowings in one prostration. Then he sat, and the sun was cleared. He said: ‘And ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I have never prostrated in a prostration longer than that one.’

‘Abd Allah ibn Maslamah narrated to us, from Malik, from Zayd ibn Aslam, from ‘Ata’ ibn Yasar, from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abbas, who said: The sun was eclipsed during the Messenger of Allah’s lifetime, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed. He stood for a long time, about as long as it takes to recite Surat al-Baqarah. Then he bowed for a long time. Then he rose and stood for a long time, shorter than the first standing. Then he bowed for a long time, shorter than the first bowing. Then he prostrated. Then he stood for a long time, shorter than the first standing. Then he bowed for a long time, shorter than the first bowing. Then he rose and stood for a long time, shorter than the first standing. Then he bowed for a long time, shorter than the first bowing. Then he prostrated and finished, when the sun had cleared. He said: ‘The sun and the moon are two of Allah’s signs. They do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life. When you see that, remember Allah.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, we saw you reach for something from your place, then we saw you draw back.’ He said: ‘I saw Paradise and reached for a cluster [of fruit]. Had I reached it, you would have eaten from it for as long as the world remained. I was shown the Fire, and I have never seen a sight more dreadful than today’s. I saw that most of its inhabitants were women.’ They asked: ‘Why, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said: ‘Because of their ingratitude.’ It was asked: ‘Do they disbelieve in Allah?’ He said: ‘They are ungrateful to their husbands and ungrateful for good treatment. If you were good to one of them throughout your whole life, then she saw something from you, she would say: “I have never seen any good from you.”’

‘Abd Allah ibn Yusuf narrated to us; he said: Malik informed us, from Hisham ibn ‘Urwah, from his wife Fatimah bint al-Mundhir, from Asma’ bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: I came to ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when the sun was eclipsed. The people were standing and praying, and she was standing and praying. I asked, ‘What is happening to the people?’ She pointed with her hand toward the sky and said, ‘Glory be to Allah.’ I said, ‘A sign?’ She gestured, meaning yes. She said: I stood until I was overcome by faintness, and I began pouring water over my head. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) finished, he praised Allah and extolled Him, then said: ‘There is nothing I had not seen that I have not now seen here in this place where I stand, including Paradise and Hell. It has been revealed to me that you will be tried in your graves like—or nearly like—the trial of the Dajjal (Asma’ said: I do not know which of the two expressions she used). Each of you will be brought and asked, “What do you know about this man?” As for the believer—or the one certain (Asma’ said: I do not know which of the two words she used)—he will say: “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He came to us with clear proofs and guidance, so we responded, believed, and followed.” It will be said to him: “Sleep well; We knew that you were indeed certain.” As for the hypocrite—or the one in doubt (Asma’ said: I do not know which of the two expressions she used)—he will say: “I do not know. I heard people saying something, so I said it.”’

Rabi‘ ibn Yahya narrated to us; he said: Za’idah narrated to us, from Hisham, from Fatimah, from Asma’, who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the freeing of slaves during the solar eclipse.

Isma‘il narrated to us; he said: Malik narrated to me, from Yahya ibn Sa‘id, from ‘Amrah bint ‘Abd al-Rahman, from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): A Jewish woman came to ask her something and said, ‘May Allah protect you from the punishment of the grave.’ ‘A’ishah asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): ‘Will people be punished in their graves?’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, seeking refuge with Allah from that. Then one morning the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) mounted a riding animal. The sun was eclipsed, and he returned in the forenoon. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed among the rooms, then stood and prayed, while the people stood behind him. He stood for a long time, then bowed for a long time. Then he rose and stood for a long time, shorter than the first standing. Then he bowed for a long time, shorter than the first bowing. Then he rose and prostrated for a long time. Then he stood for a long time, shorter than the first standing. Then he bowed for a long time, shorter than the first bowing. Then he stood for a long time, shorter than the first standing. Then he bowed for a long time, shorter than the first bowing. Then he prostrated, shorter than the first prostration, and finished. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said whatever Allah willed him to say, then commanded them to seek refuge from the punishment of the grave.

Musaddad narrated to us; he said: Yahya narrated to us, from Isma‘il, who said: Qays narrated to me, from Abu Mas‘ud, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life, but they are two of Allah’s signs. When you see them, pray.’

‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad narrated to us; he said: Hisham narrated to us; Ma‘mar informed us, from al-Zuhri and Hisham ibn ‘Urwah, from ‘Urwah, from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: The sun was eclipsed during the Messenger of Allah’s lifetime, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood and prayed with the people. He prolonged the recitation, then bowed and prolonged the bowing. Then he raised his head and prolonged the recitation, shorter than his first recitation. Then he bowed and prolonged the bowing, shorter than his first bowing. Then he raised his head and prostrated twice. Then he stood and did the same in the second unit. Then he stood and said: ‘The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life, but they are two of Allah’s signs, which He shows to His servants. When you see that, hasten to prayer.’

Muhammad ibn al-‘Ala’ narrated to us; he said: Abu Usamah narrated to us, from Burayd ibn ‘Abd Allah, from Abu Burdah, from Abu Musa, who said: The sun was eclipsed, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood in alarm, fearing that the Hour might have come. He went to the mosque and prayed with the longest standing, bowing, and prostration I had ever seen him perform. He said: ‘These signs that Allah sends do not occur because of anyone’s death or life. Rather, Allah frightens His servants by means of them. When you see anything of that, hasten to remember Him, call upon Him, and seek His forgiveness.’

Abu al-Walid narrated to us; he said: Za’idah narrated to us; Ziyad ibn ‘Ilaqah narrated to us; he said: I heard al-Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah say: The sun was eclipsed on the day Ibrahim died, and the people said: ‘It was eclipsed because Ibrahim died.’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘The sun and the moon are two of Allah’s signs. They do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life. When you see them, call upon Allah and pray until the eclipse clears.’