Verily the sun and the moon do not eclipse on account of the death or life of anyone. They are in fact the signs among the signs of Allah. So when you see them, observe prayer.
The Book of Prayer - Eclipses
Sahih Muslim 914
Hadith Text
Verily the sun and the moon do not eclipse on account of the death or life of anyone. They are in fact the signs among the signs of Allah. So when you see them, observe prayer.
Commentary on Astronomical Significance
This noble hadith establishes that eclipses are natural phenomena governed by divine laws, not supernatural events caused by human affairs. The Prophet ﷺ explicitly refuted the pre-Islamic Arabian belief that eclipses occurred due to the death of important figures. This teaching aligns scientific observation with Islamic monotheism, affirming that celestial bodies follow precise divine patterns established by Allah's wisdom.
Spiritual Response to Eclipses
The command to pray during eclipses transforms a natural event into an occasion for spiritual reflection and worship. This prayer (salat al-kusuf) serves multiple purposes: it reminds believers of Allah's absolute power over creation, encourages humility before divine signs, and turns attention toward the Hereafter. The eclipse prayer differs from regular prayers in its extended recitation and prolonged bowing and prostration, reflecting the solemnity of the occasion.
Theological Implications
By declaring eclipses as "signs among the signs of Allah," the Prophet ﷺ established an Islamic cosmology where natural phenomena point toward divine reality. This perspective encourages Muslims to study creation as a means of knowing the Creator while maintaining proper theological understanding. The hadith demonstrates Islam's balanced approach to natural phenomena - neither attributing them to superstition nor divorcing them from their spiritual significance.