Islamic guidelines for Solar eclipses

Islamic guidelines for  Solar eclipses

Islamic guidelines for  Solar eclipses

Rulings on solar eclipses in the light of the Qur'an and Hadith This is an important issue of the present day. Allah Almighty loves His servants very much. God does not like His servants to turn away from Him. Rather, Allah's pleasure is in keeping His servants close to Him. Allah does not make His servants suffer for no reason. Rather, there are motives behind it.

When the servants of Allah rejoice in the world, they turn away from Allah. So Allah tests them with small afflictions to bring them to Himself. The purpose of this is that the servants turn to Allah. And ask forgiveness of Allah for your sins. Allah said: وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُمْ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَدْنَى دُونَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَكْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ We warn them of a small torment before the great torment, so that they may return to Me. (Surat as-Sajda, verse no. 21)

That is, whatever calamity befalls man is an alarm for him. This alarm warns man to return to Allah. Ask God to forgive you for your sins. If you do not, then a great punishment from Allah will befall you.

In At the present age, people have become very far from Allah. God first sent the coronavirus to warn people. So that people may be aware. Now there is another test from God for mankind. And that is solar eclipses. In the following, we will explain the rules of  Solar eclipse in the light of Qur'an and Hadith:

(1) The sun and the moon are among the signs of Allah:

Day and night, the sun and the moon are among the signs of Allah. Signs that give us a sense of God's sovereignty and power. Through which we can get to know Allah. Allah said: هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاءً وَالْقَمَرَ نُورًا وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوا عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ يُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ۔ He (Allah) Who made the sun shining and the moon bright. And set its destinations so that you may know the counting and reckoning of the years. Allah created all this with the truth. (Allah) explains the signs in detail for a people who know. (Surah Yunus, verse no. 05)

Allah said: وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ ۔ Day and night, sun and moon are the signs of Allah. (So) do not prostrate to the sun and the moon. Prostrate yourselves to Allah, Who created them.

(2) Why does a solar eclipse occur?

Scientific research shows that solar eclipses occur when the moon comes between the earth and the sun. But the Qur'an and Hadith also tell us one reason for the eclipse.

Our beloved Prophet had a son named Ibrahim. He died when he was 18 months old. By the command of Allah, the solar eclipse took place on the same day. The people started saying that the son of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had died today due to which the eclipse took place.

At that time He(PBUH) said: «إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ، لاَ يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ، وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يُخَوِّفُ بِهَا عِبَادَهُ» The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah. They do not feel eclipsed by anyone's life or death. (Rather) Allah warns His servants through them. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1048)

So from this blessed hadith we understand that the purpose of the eclipse is to make people fear Allah. And ask forgiveness of Allah for your sins.

(3) What should we do when there is an eclipse?

When the sun is eclipsed, we should offer eclipse prayers, charity and ask forgiveness from Allah for our sins. Hazrat Abu Musa (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ شَيْئًا مِنْ ذَلِكَ، فَافْزَعُوا إِلَى ذِكْرِهِ وَدُعَائِهِ وَاسْتِغْفَارِهِ۔ When you see (solar or lunar eclipse), hasten to remember Allah, supplicate and ask forgiveness for your sins. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1048)

(4) Some special rules of eclipse prayer:

The scholars of the ummah agree that the eclipse prayer is a definite Sunnah. And this is not obligatory. Similarly, it is better to offer the eclipse prayers in congregation. But it is not a condition for this prayer to have a congregation.

In the same way, it is permissible to offer the eclipse prayers aloud and it is permissible to offer it in silence.

However, according to Imam Bukhari, it is more correct to offer this prayer aloud. And it lasts from the time of the eclipse until the end of the eclipse. Eclipse prayers can be offered by both men and women. After the Eclipse Prayers, the Imam will give sermons and advice to the worshipers. And He will command the people to fear Allah.

(5) How to perform the eclipse prayer:

  The solar eclipses are a sign from Allah that people may forsake their sins. On this occasion, our Prophet Muhammad used to arrange eclipse prayers. We should also arrange this prayer on this occasion.

Most of the scholars are of the view that the eclipse prayer consists of two rack's. And there are only two ruku's in each rack' ah. Although some authentic ahaadeeth also mention more ruku's in one rak' ah, but the most common is that we should do two ruku's in each rak' ah of the eclipse prayer. Now the method of eclipse prayer is as follows:

Hazrat Ayesha (RA) narrates that there was a solar eclipse in the time of the Prophet (SAW). He went to the mosque. People lined up behind him. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited the Qur'an at length after the takbeer. Then he bowed long.

Then he raised his head and said: «سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ» Then he stood up and recited (Quran)at length. And this recitation was shorter than the first recitation. Then the Prophet said Allahu Akbar and bowed long. But (this bowing) was shorter than the first bowing.

Then he said: «سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ» Then he prostrated. And he performed the second rak'ah in the same way. Until he bowed only four times (in two rak'ahs) and prostrated only four times. And the eclipse was over before he finished his prayers. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 901)

These where some of the special injunctions concerning the solar eclipses and the eclipse prayer. May Allah give us the Strength to Act. Amen!