The Book of Eclipses

‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: During the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) the sun eclipsed, so he led the people in prayer. He stood for a long time and then bowed for a long time. He stood again for a long time, but this time the period of standing was shorter than the first time. He then bowed again for a long time, but it was shorter than the first time, and then he prostrated and prolonged the prostration. He did the same in the second Rak‘ah and then finished the prayer. By that time, the sun had appeared. He delivered a sermon to the people and, after praising and glorifying Allah, he said: "The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse on the death or life of anyone. So when you see that, supplicate to Allah, say Takbīr, pray, and give charity." Then he said: "O followers of Muhammad, by Allah! No one gets more jealously protective than Allah when His male or female servant commits adultery. O followers of Muhammad, by Allah! If you knew what I know, you would laugh a little and weep a lot." The wording of another narration reads: "He completed bowing four times and four prostrations."

Abu Mas‘ūd, ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amr al-Ansāri al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah, by which Allah frightens His slaves. They do not eclipse on account of the death of anyone. So, when there is an eclipse, observe prayer and supplication till it (the eclipse) is over.”

‘Abdullah ibn Yazīd al-Khatmi reported: Al-Barā’—and he is not a liar—said to me: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ''Sami‘allāhu liman hamidah (Allah hears whoever praises him),'' none of us would bend his back until the Prophet (ﷺ) had fallen in prostration. We would then fall in prostration right after him.

‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: During the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) the sun eclipsed, so he led the people in prayer. He stood for a long time and then bowed for a long time. He stood again for a long time, but this time the period of standing was shorter than the first time. He then bowed again for a long time, but it was shorter than the first time, and then he prostrated and prolonged the prostration. He did the same in the second Rak‘ah and then finished the prayer. By that time, the sun had appeared. He delivered a sermon to the people and, after praising and glorifying Allah, he said: "The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse on the death or life of anyone. So when you see that, supplicate to Allah, say Takbīr, pray, and give charity." Then he said: "O followers of Muhammad, by Allah! No one gets more jealously protective than Allah when His male or female servant commits adultery. O followers of Muhammad, by Allah! If you knew what I know, you would laugh a little and weep a lot." The wording of another narration reads: "He completed bowing four times and four prostrations."

Abu Mas‘ūd, ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amr al-Ansāri al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah, by which Allah frightens His slaves. They do not eclipse on account of the death of anyone. So, when there is an eclipse, observe prayer and supplication till it (the eclipse) is over.”

Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The sun eclipsed during the time of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). 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 standing and prostration such as 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 His servants thereby. So when you see any such thing, hasten to remember Him, supplicate Him, and beg pardon from Him."