Sunnah is My Style!

Salat ul Kusoof (Prayer when there is an eclipse)

                In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

‘Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s), his blessed descendents and noble companions.’

                                                                      Aameen.

 

SALATUL KUSOOF (Prayer when there is an eclipse)

 

Kusoof or solar eclipse, is the partial or total cutting off of the sun's light when the moon comes between it and the earth. People used to associate this unusual phenomenon with some superstitious reason.

It happened that the sun eclipsed on the day the Prophet SAW's son Ibrahim died in Madinah, so some people attributed that to his death. Hence, the Prophet SAW took the opportunity to correct the people's mistaken notion about the solar eclipse.

Imaam al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated that Ibn Mas’ood al-Ansaari said: “the sun was eclipsed the day Ibraaheem the son of the Messenger of Allaah SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) died, and the people said, ‘The sun is eclipsed because of the death of Ibraaheem.’

The Prophet SAW ordered someone to announce “As-salatu jami'ah,” that is that Prayer is to be convened in public. When people gathered, he led them in Prayer after which he lauded Allaah SWT and stated: 

“The sun and the moon are two signs of Allah; they are not eclipsed on account of anyone's death or on account of anyone's birth. So when you see them, glorify and supplicate Allah, observe the Prayer, give alms. O Ummah of Muhammad, none is more indignant than Allah when His servant or maid commits fornication. O people of Muhammad, by Allah, if you knew what I know, you would weep much and laugh little. O Allah, witness, I informed them.”

Solar and lunar eclipses are reminders of the Day of Judgment, when the sun, moon, and stars will all lose their light. 

[When the sight is dazed, and the moon is buried in darkness, and the sun and moon are joined together: Man will say on that Day, ‘Where is the refuge?’] (Al-Qiyamah75: 7-10)

As a reminder of the Last Day, the eclipse is a time for Prayer, charitable acts, and generally remembering Allah SWT and seeking His forgiveness.

To believe that heavenly bodies (sun, moon, planets, stars) have power over events and people’s fates and fortunes is to reject Allah by ascribing partners to Him. 

[And among His Signs are the night and the day, the sun and the moon. Prostrate neither to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate to Allah who created them, if it is truly Him you worship.] (Fussilat 41: 37)

Thus, one cannot worship God by worshiping creation—whether the devotions are offered to nature, heavenly bodies, idols, or human beings. The popular but false, empty faith in astrology, so widespread in the popular press, is also condemned in Islam. Islam teaches people to constantly turn to the Source of all events: Allaah.

Salat al-kusoof (solar eclipse Prayer) is Sunnah mu’akkadah (confirmed sunnah) for both male and female believers. It is better to offer it congregationally in the mosque. Its time is from the beginning of the eclipse ‘till it clears away. There is no adhan for the Prayer, but it should be announced, as stated earlier, with “as-salatu jami'ah.”