Q:
How should Salat-ul-Kusuf (Prayer at the time of a solar eclipse)
and Salat-ul-Khusuf (Prayer on a lunar eclipse) be performed? Is there any
difference between them? What is the opinion on the reports published by the
papers about the solar timings of a solar or lunar eclipse?
A:
There are authentic Hadiths in which the Prophet (peace be upon
him) showed how Salat-ul-Khusuf can be performed. He (peace be upon him)
ordered that people should be called to it by announcing As-salatu Jami’ah
“Gather for Prayer”.
The
most authentic reports concerning this Salah show that it consists of two
Rak’ahs (units of prayer), and in each Rak’ah one should make two recitations
and perform two Ruku’s (bowings) and two Sujuds (prostrations). The person
should make lengthy recitation, Ruku’ and Sujud. In the meantime, the first
recitation and Ruku’ should be longer than the second ones. The person should
make Ruku’ in the second Rak’ah for a shorter time than the two Ruku’s in the
first one. During the second Rak’ah, the person should make the second
recitation and Ruku’ for a shorter time than the first in the same Rak’ah.
As
for the two Sujuds, it is a Sunnah (action following the teachings of the
Prophet) to be lengthy provided that this does not cause any difficulty to the
Ma’mums (people being led by an Imam in Prayer) because this was the Prophet’s
(peace be upon him) way. Upon completing the Salah, the Imam (the one who leads
congregational Prayer), if he is knowledgeable, is allowed to deliver a
sermon and tell the people that the solar and lunar eclipses are two signs of
Allah (Exalted be He) by which He frightens His Servants. The
Muslims, upon seeing it, are prescribed to offer Salah, remember Allah (Exalted
be He), make Du’a (supplication) and Takbir (saying: ”Allahu Akbar
[Allah is the Greatest]”), give in charity, and emancipate a believing
slave until the end of the eclipse. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: <<Verily
the sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah by
which He frightens His Servants and they do not eclipse on account of the death
or birth of anybody. So when you see either of them, observe Prayer,and
supplicate to Allah (Exalted be He) till it is cleared from you. >>
Another narration reads: <<So
whenever you see them, haste to remember Allah, invoke Him and ask Him for
forgiveness.>>
It
is narrated in some Hadiths that the person should give in charity and
emancipates slaves. The astronomical reports about the timing of the eclipse
must not be taken as a the basis for offering Salat-ul-Kusuf. Some people of
knowledge, including Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and his knowledgeable
disciple Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah be merciful to both of them) supported
this view saying that the astronomers may sometimes be wrong; thus, these
reports can not be reliable, and people should not offer Salat-ul-Kusuf
depending on them. Rather, they have to offer the Salah upon seeing the
eclipse when it is happening.
The
publications of the astronomers’ reports about the timing of eclipse should be
banned by the Ministry of Information, lest some people should be
deceived by them. These publications may make people less frightened upon
seeing the eclipse. Allah (Exalted be He) has made them to frighten the people.
Therefore, they remember, fear, invoke Allah, and treat His Slaves
properly. May Allah grant us success.
~
Source:
Fatwas of Ibn Baz,Volume 13, Part no.13, page no. 35-36 | Salat-ul-Kusuf|alifta.net
