On the day of Ibrahim's death, the sun eclipsed and the people said that the eclipse was due to the death of Ibrahim (the son of the Prophet). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah. They do not eclipse because of someone's death or life. So when you see them, invoke Allah and pray till the eclipse is clear."
Exposition of the Hadith
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (1060) concerning eclipses refutes the pre-Islamic superstition that celestial phenomena are connected to human events. The Prophet ﷺ explicitly denied that his son Ibrahim's death caused the solar eclipse, establishing that such events are divine signs operating under Allah's cosmic order.
Theological Significance
The declaration "they do not eclipse because of someone's death or life" establishes tawhid by rejecting astrological beliefs and affirming Allah's absolute control over creation. Eclipses are among ayatullah (signs of Allah) meant to inspire reflection and submission, not superstitious interpretations.
Practical Guidance
The command "invoke Allah and pray till the eclipse is clear" establishes the sunnah prayer (salat al-kusuf) during eclipses. This worship transforms a natural phenomenon into an occasion for spiritual renewal, demonstrating Islam's practical approach to connecting cosmic events with divine remembrance.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explain that this hadith teaches Muslims to respond to natural phenomena with worship rather than speculation. The eclipse prayer serves as collective dhikr, turning attention from worldly causes to the Creator of causes, thus fulfilling the purpose of creation - to recognize and worship Allah alone.