In the lifetime of the Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) the sun eclipsed and he went out dragging his clothes till he reached the Mosque. The people gathered around him and he led them and offered two rak`at. When the sun (eclipse) cleared, he said, "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse because of the death of someone, and so when an eclipse occurs, pray and invoke Allah till the eclipse is over." It happened that a son of the Prophet (ﷺ) called Ibrahim died on that day and the people were talking about that (saying that the eclipse was caused by his death).
Eclipses - Sahih al-Bukhari 1063
In the lifetime of the Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) the sun eclipsed and he went out dragging his clothes till he reached the Mosque. The people gathered around him and he led them and offered two rak`at. When the sun (eclipse) cleared, he said, "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse because of the death of someone, and so when an eclipse occurs, pray and invoke Allah till the eclipse is over." It happened that a son of the Prophet (ﷺ) called Ibrahim died on that day and the people were talking about that (saying that the eclipse was caused by his death).
Commentary on the Eclipse Prayer
The Prophet's immediate response to the solar eclipse demonstrates that it is a time for prayer and remembrance of Allah, not for worldly matters. His haste in going to the mosque, even dragging his garments, shows the urgency and importance of turning to Allah during such celestial events.
The two rak'at prayer performed is known as Salat al-Kusuf (Eclipse Prayer), which has a specific method involving prolonged recitation, bowing, and standing. This distinguishes it from regular prayers and emphasizes the gravity of the occasion.
Refutation of Superstition
The Prophet explicitly corrected the common pre-Islamic belief that eclipses occurred due to the death of important figures. By stating that the sun and moon are among Allah's signs, he affirmed their submission to divine order and natural laws established by the Creator.
This teaching eliminated superstition and established that celestial phenomena are part of Allah's perfect system, occurring by His wisdom and command, not as omens or reactions to earthly events.
Spiritual Response to Natural Phenomena
The instruction to pray and invoke Allah during an eclipse teaches Muslims to respond to natural events with worship rather than fear or speculation. This transforms what could be a moment of anxiety into an opportunity for spiritual growth and connection with the Divine.
The timing coinciding with his son Ibrahim's death provided a practical demonstration that even personal grief should not distract from proper religious observance and understanding of divine signs.