The Book of Prayer - Eclipses

كتاب الكسوف

Chapter 3: What Was Shown To The Prophet Of Paradise And Hell During The Eclipse Prayer

Ibn 'Abbas reported

There was an eclipse of the sun during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ) prayed accompanied by the people. He stood for a long time, about as long as it would take to recite Surah al-Baqara; then he bowed for a long time; then he raised his head and stood for a long time, but it was less than the first qiyam. He then bowed for a long time but for a shorter while than the first. He then prostrated and then stood for a long time, but it was less than the first qiyam. He then bowed for a long time, but it was less than the first bowing. He then raised (his head) and stood for a long time, but it was less than the first qiyam. He then bowed for a long time but it was less than the first bowing. He then observed prostration, and then he finished, and the sun had cleared (by that time). He (the Holy Prophet) then said: The sun and moon are two signs from the signs of Allah. These two do not eclipse on account of the death of anyone or on account of the birth of anyone. So when you see that, remember Allah. They (his Companions) said: Messenger of Allah, we saw you reach out to something, while you were standing here, then we saw you restrain yourself. He said: I saw Paradise and reached out to a bunch of its grapes; and had I taken it you would have eaten of it as long as the world endured. I saw Hell also. No such (abominable) sight have I ever seen as that which I saw today; and I observed that most of its inhabitants were women. They said: Messenger of Allah, on what account is it so? He said: For their ingratitude or disbelief (bi-kufraihinna). It was said: Do they disbelieve in Allah? He said: (Not for their disbelief in God) but for their ingratitude to their husbands and ingratitude to kindness. If you were to treat one of them kindly for ever, but if she later saw anything (displeasing) in you, she would say: I have never seen any good in you.

Chapter 4: Those Who Say That He Prayed With Eight Bowings And Four Prostrations

Ibn 'Abbas reported

When there was a solar eclipse the Messenger of Allah (way peace be upon him) observed eight ruku's and four prostrations (in two rak'ahs). This has been narrated by 'Ali also.

Chapter 5: The Call For The Eclipse Prayer: "As-Salatu Jami'ah (The Prayer Is Being Assembled)

'Amr b. al-'As reported

When the sun eclipsed during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), they (the people) were called to congregational prayers. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed two ruku's in one rak'ah. He then stood and observed two ruku's in (the second) rak'ah. The sun then became bright, and 'A'isha said; Never did I observe, ruku' and prostration longer than this (ruku' and prostration).

Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

Verily the sun and the moon are the two signs among the signs of Allah by which He frightens his servants and they do not eclipse on account of the death of any one of the people. So when you see anything about them, observe prayer, supplicate Allah till it is cleared from you.

'Abd al-Rahman b. Samura said

During the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) I was shooting my arrows in Medina, when an eclipse of the sun took place. I, therefore, threw them away and said, I must see how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) acts in a solar eclipse today. When I came to him, he had been supplicating with his hands, raised, pronouncing Allah-o-Akbar, praising Him, acknowledging that He is One God till the eclipse was over, then he recited two surahs and prayed two rak'ahs.

Chapter 3: What Was Shown To The Prophet Of Paradise And Hell During The Eclipse Prayer

Abu Juraij narrated this hadith with the same chain of transmitters (but with the addition of these words)

" It was for a long duration that he (the Holy Prophet) observed qiyam and he would then observe ruku'. (The narrator also added) I (Asma') looked at a woman who was older than I, and at another who was weaker than I.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zaid b. Aslam with the same chain of transmitters except with this difference that he (the narrator said)

" then we saw you keeping aloof (back)."

Chapter 4: Those Who Say That He Prayed With Eight Bowings And Four Prostrations

Ibn 'Abbas reported

The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) observed prayer while it was (solar) eclipse. He recited (the Qur'an in qiyam) and then bowed. He again recited and again bowed. He again recited and again bowed and again recited and again bowed, and then prostrated; and the second (rak'ah) was like this.

Chapter 5: The Call For The Eclipse Prayer: "As-Salatu Jami'ah (The Prayer Is Being Assembled)

Abu Mas'ud reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

Verily the sun and the moon do not eclipse on account of the death of any one of the people, but they are the two signs among the signs of Allah. So when you see it, stand up and observe prayer.

Abu Musa reported

The sun eclipsed during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He stood in great anxiety fearing that it might be the Doomsday, till he came to the mosque. He stood up to pray with prolonged qiyam, ruku', and prostration which I never saw him doing in prayer; and then he said: These are the signs which Allah sends, not on account of the death of anyone or life of any one, but Allah sends them to frighten thereby His servants. So when you see any such thing, hasten to remember Him, supplicate Him and beg pardon from Him, and in the narration transmitted by Ibn 'Ala the words are:" The sun eclipsed"."" He frightens His servants."

'Abd al-Rahman b. Samura, who was one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

During the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) I was shooting some of my arrows in Medina, when the sun eclipsed. I threw (the arrows) and said: By Allah, I must see how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) acts in solar eclipse. So I came to him and he was standing in prayer, raising his hands, glorifying Him, praising Him, acknowledging His Oneness, declaring His greatness, and supplicating Him, till the sun cleared. When the eclipse was over, he recited two surahs and prayed two rak'ahs.

Ziyad b. 'Ilaqa reported

I heard Mughira b. Shu'ba saying that the sun eclipsed during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the day when Ibrahim died. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Verily the sun and the moon are the two signs among the signs of Allah. They do not eclipse on account of the death of anyone or on account of the birth of anyone. So when you see them, supplicate Allah, and observe prayer till it is over.