Prayer at an Eclipse - Section 1

‘A’isha said there was an eclipse of the sun in the time of God’s Messenger, and he sent one to summon the people to congregational prayer. He then went forward and prayed two <i>rak'as</i> in which he bowed four times and prostrated himself four times. ‘A’isha said, “I never performed a bow or a prostration which was longer than it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ خَسَفَتْ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَبَعَثَ مُنَادِيًا: الصَّلَاةُ جَامِعَةٌ فَتقدم فصلى أَربع رَكْعَات وَفِي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَأَرْبع سَجدَات. قَالَت عَائِشَة: مَا رَكَعْتُ رُكُوعًا قَطُّ وَلَا سَجَدْتُ سُجُودًا قطّ كَانَ أطول مِنْهُ

She said that the Prophet (ﷺ) recited the Qur’an in a loud voice in the prayer at an eclipse. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: جَهَرَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي صَلَاةِ الخسوف بقرَاءَته

‘Abdallah b. ‘Abbas said:

There was an eclipse of the sun in the time of God’s Messenger and he prayed accompanied by the people. He stood for a long time, about as long as it would take to recite Sura al- Baqara;(Al-Qur’an; 1) 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 time; then he bowed for a long time, but it was less than the first bowing; then he raised his head; then he prostrated himself; then he stood for a long time, but it was less than the first time ; then he bowed for a long time, but it was less than the first bowing; then he raised his head and stood for a long time, but it was less than the first time; then he bowed for a long time, but it was less than the first bowing; then he raised his head; then he prostrated himself; then he departed, and the sun had become bright. He said, “The sun and the moon are two of God’s signs; they are not eclipsed on account of anyone’s death or on account of anyone’s birth; 1 so when you see that, make mention of God.” The people said, “Messenger of God, we saw you reach out to something while you were standing here, then we saw you move back.” He replied, “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 endures. I also saw hell. 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 asked why that was and he replied that it was for their ingratitude (<i>bi-kufrihinna</i>). He was asked whether they disbelieved in God2 and replied, “They are ungrateful to their husbands and they are ungrateful for kindness. If you were to treat one of them kindly for ever and she later saw some defect in you, she would say she had never seen any good in you." 1. Literally, life. 2. The word <i>kufr</i> means both ingratitude and unbelief, which explains why the remark was misunderstood. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَن عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: انْخَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلًا نَحْوًا مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلًا ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَقَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلًا وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الْأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلًا وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الْأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ ثُمَّ قَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلًا وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الْأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلًا وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الْأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَقَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلًا وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الْأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلًا وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الْأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ ثمَّ انْصَرف وَقد تجلت الشَّمْس فَقَالَ صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَا يَخْسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلَا لِحَيَاتِهِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ ذَلِكَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ» . قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ الله رَأَيْنَاك تناولت شَيْئا فِي مقامك ثمَّ رَأَيْنَاك تكعكعت؟ قَالَ صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «إِنِّي أريت الْجنَّة فتناولت عُنْقُودًا وَلَوْ أَخَذْتُهُ لَأَكَلْتُمْ مِنْهُ مَا بَقِيَتِ الدُّنْيَا وأريت النَّار فَلم أر منْظرًا كَالْيَوْمِ قَطُّ أَفْظَعَ وَرَأَيْتُ أَكْثَرَ أَهْلِهَا النِّسَاءَ» . قَالُوا: بِمَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «بِكُفْرِهِنَّ» . قِيلَ: يَكْفُرْنَ بِاللَّهِ؟ . قَالَ:

يَكْفُرْنَ الْعَشِيرَ وَيَكْفُرْنَ الْإِحْسَانَ لَو أَحْسَنت إِلَى أحداهن الدَّهْر كُله ثُمَّ رَأَتْ مِنْكَ شَيْئًا قَالَتْ: مَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْك خيرا قطّ

‘A'isha told a tradition similar to that of Ibn ‘Abbas and said:

Then he prostrated himself for a long time, then departed and the sun had become clear. He preached to the people, and after praising and extolling God he said, “The sun and the moon are two of God’s signs; they are not eclipsed on account of anyone’s death or on account of anyone's birth, so when you see that supplicate God, declare His greatness, pray and give alms." He then said, “O people of Muhammad, I swear by God that no one is more indignant than God when His servant or handmaiden commits fornication. O people of Muhammad, I swear by God that if you knew what I know you would laugh little and weep much." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ نَحْوُ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَقَالَتْ: ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَأَطَالَ السُّجُودَ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ وَقَدِ انْجَلَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَا يَخْسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلَا لِحَيَاتِهِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ ذَلِكَ فَادْعُوا اللَّهَ وَكَبِّرُوا وَصَلُّوا وَتَصَدَّقُوا» ثُمَّ قَالَ: «يَا أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَاللَّهِ مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ أَغْيَرُ مِنَ اللَّهِ أَنْ يَزْنِيَ عَبْدُهُ أَوْ تَزْنِيَ أَمَتُهُ يَا أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَاللَّهِ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا أَعْلَمُ لَضَحِكْتُمْ قَلِيلًا وَلَبَكَيْتُمْ كَثِيرًا»

Abu Musa said:

There was an eclipse of the sun, and the Prophet (ﷺ) got up in trepidation fearing that the last hour fiad come. He then went to the mosque and prayed, standing, bowing and prostrating himself longer than I had ever seen him do. He then said, “These signs which God sends do not come on account of anyone’s death or on account of his birth, but God produces dread in His servants by means of them. So when you see anything of that nature, apply yourselves to making mention of Him, supplication of Him and asking pardon of Him." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ: خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَزِعًا يَخْشَى أَنْ تَكُونَ السَّاعَةَ فَأَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ فَصَلَّى بِأَطْوَلِ قِيَامٍ وَرُكُوعٍ وَسُجُودٍ مَا رَأَيْتُهُ قَطُّ يَفْعَلُهُ وَقَالَ: «هَذِهِ الْآيَاتُ الَّتِي يُرْسِلُ اللَّهُ لَا تَكُونُ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلَا لِحَيَاتِهِ وَلَكِنْ يُخَوِّفُ اللَّهُ بِهَا عِبَادَهُ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ شَيْئًا مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَافْزَعُوا إِلَى ذِكْرِهِ وَدُعَائِهِ واستغفاره»

Jabir said there was an eclipse of the sun in the time of God’s Messenger on the day his son Ibrahim died. He led the people in prayer, performing six bowings and four prostrations. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمَ مَاتَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ابْنُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ سِتَّ رَكَعَاتٍ بِأَرْبَعِ سَجَدَاتٍ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Ibn ‘Abbas said that when an eclipse of the sun took place, God’s Messenger prayed performing eight bowings and four prostrations. There is a similar tradition from 'Ali. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن ابْن عَبَّاس قَالَ: صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم حِين كسفت الشَّمْس ثَمَان رَكْعَات فِي أَربع سَجدَات وَعَن عَليّ مثل ذَلِك. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘Abd ar-Rahmin b. Samura said:

During the lifetime of God’s Messenger was shooting some of my arrows in Medina when an eclipse of the sun took place. I therefore threw them away and said, “I swear by God that I must see how God’s Messenger acts in a solar eclipse.” When I came to him he was standing in prayer raising his hands. He then began to glorify God, to acknowledge that He is the only God, to declare His greatness, to express His praise and make supplication till the eclipse came to an end. When the eclipse was over he recited two <i>suras</i> and prayed two <i>rak'as</i>. Muslim transmitted it in his <i>Sahih</i> from 'Abd ar-Rahman b. Samura, and the same occurs in <i>Sharh as-sunna</i>, on his authority, but in the copies of <i>al-Masabih</i> it is given on the authority of Jabir b. Samura.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ: كُنْتُ أرتمي بأسهم لي بالمدين فِي حَيَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذْ كُسِفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَنَبَذْتُهَا. فَقُلْتُ: وَاللَّهِ لَأَنْظُرَنَّ إِلَى مَا حَدَثَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي كُسُوفِ الشَّمْسِ. قَالَ: فَأَتَيْتُهُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ فِي الصَّلَاةِ رَافِعٌ يَدَيْهِ فَجعل يسبح ويهلل وَيكبر ويحمد وَيَدْعُو حَتَّى حَسَرَ عَنْهَا فَلَمَّا حَسَرَ عَنْهَا قَرَأَ سُورَتَيْنِ وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ فِي صَحِيحِهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ وَكَذَا فِي شَرْحِ السُّنَّةِ عَنْهُ وَفِي نُسَخِ الْمَصَابِيحِ عَنْ جَابِرِ بن سَمُرَة

Asma’ daughter of Abu Bakr said that during a solar eclipse the Prophet (ﷺ) gave command that slaves should be set free. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَتْ: لَقَدْ أَمَرَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْعَتَاقَةِ فِي كُسُوفِ الشَّمْسِ. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Samura b. Jundub said that God’s Messenger led them in prayer during an eclipse, but that they did not hear what he said. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

عَن سَمُرَة بن جُنْدُب قَالَ: صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي كُسُوفٍ لَا نَسْمَعُ لَهُ صَوْتًا. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

'Ikrima said that when Ibn ‘Abbas was told that a certain wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) had died, he prostrated himself. Someone asked him why he made prostration at such a time, and he replied, “God’s Messenger told us to prostrate ourselves when we saw a sign, and what sign is greater than the departure of the Prophet's wives?” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَن عِكْرِمَة قَالَ: قِيلَ لِابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: مَاتَتْ فُلَانَةُ بَعْضُ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَخَرَّ سَاجِدًا فَقِيلَ لَهُ تَسْجُدُ فِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ؟ فَقَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ آيَةً فَاسْجُدُوا» وَأَيُّ آيَةٍ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَهَابِ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ

Ubayy b. Ka'b said that when an eclipse of the sun took place in the time of God’s Messenger he led them in prayer, reciting one of the long <i>suras</i>, bowing five times and prostrating himself twice. He then stood up for the second </i>rak'a</i>, recited one of the long <i>suras</i>, bowed five times, prostrated himself twice, then sat where he was facing the <i>qibla</i> and made supplication till the eclipse passed. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ: انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فصلى بهم فَقَرَأَ بِسُورَة م الطُّوَلِ وَرَكَعَ خَمْسَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَسَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَامَ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَرَأَ بِسُورَةٍ مِنَ الطُّوَلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ خَمْسَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَسَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ كَمَا هُوَ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ يَدْعُو حَتَّى انْجَلَى كسوفها. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

An-Nu‘man b. Bashir said that when a solar eclipse took place in the time of God’s Messenger he began to pray a series of pairs of <i>rak'as</i>, making requests at the end of them till the sun became clear. Abu Dawud transmitted it. In a version by Nasa’i it says that when the sun was eclipsed the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed as Muslims normally do, bowing and prostrating himself. Another version by him says that when a solar eclipse took place one day the Prophet (ﷺ) went out quickly to the mosque and prayed till it cleared. Then he said, “The people in pre-Islamic times used to say that the sun and moon were eclipsed only on account of the death of a great man, but the sun and moon are not eclipsed on account of anyone’s death or on account of his birth, but they are two of God’s creatures. God produces in His creation what He wills; so when either of them is eclipsed pray till it clears or till God produces something.

وَعَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ قَالَ: كَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَجَعَلَ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَيَسْأَلُ عَنْهَا حَتَّى انْجَلَتِ الشَّمْسُ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ. وَفِي رِوَايَةِ النَّسَائِيِّ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَّى حِينَ انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ مِثْلَ صَلَاتِنَا يَرْكَعُ وَيَسْجُدُ وَلَهُ فِي أُخْرَى: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَرَجَ يَوْمًا مُسْتَعْجِلًا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَقَدِ انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَصَلَّى حَتَّى انْجَلَتْ ثُمَّ قَالَ:

إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ كَانُوا يَقُولُونَ: إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لَا يَنْخَسِفَانِ إِلَّا لِمَوْتِ عَظِيمٍ مِنْ عُظَمَاءِ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ وَإِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لَا يَنْخَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلَا لِحَيَاتِهِ وَلَكِنَّهُمَا خَلِيقَتَانِ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ يُحْدِثُ اللَّهُ فِي خَلْقِهِ مَا شَاءَ فَأَيُّهُمَا انْخَسَفَ فَصَلُّوا حَتَّى ينجلي أَو يحدث الله أمرا