Good Deeds:#109 Read the eclipse prayer/salatul kusuf
7:54 (Y. Ali) Your Guardian-Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and is firmly established on the throne (of authority): He draweth the night as a veil o’er the day, each seeking the other in rapid succession: He created the sun, the moon, and the stars, (all) governed by laws under His command. Is it not His to create and to govern? Blessed be Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds!
21:33 (Y. Ali) It is He Who created the Night and the Day, and the sun and the moon: all (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its rounded course.
41:37 (Y. Ali) Among His Signs are the Night and the Day, and the Sun and the Moon. Adore not the sun and the moon, but adore Allah, Who created them, if it is Him ye wish to serve.
55:5 (Y. Ali) The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed;
Narrated Asma’ bint Abu Bakr: I came to ‘Aisha during the solar eclipse. The people were standing (offering prayer) and she too, was standing and offering prayer. I asked, “What is wrong with the people?” She pointed towards the sky with her hand and said, Subhan Allah!” I asked her, “Is there a sign?” She nodded with her head meaning, yes. When Allah’s Apostle finished (the prayer), he glorified and praised Allah and said, “There is not anything that I have not seen before but I have seen now at this place of mine, even Paradise and Hell. It has been revealed to me that you people will be put to trial nearly like the trial of Ad-Dajjal, in your graves. As for the true believer or a Muslim (the sub-narrator is not sure as to which of the two (words Asma’ had said) he will say, ‘Muhammad came with clear signs from Allah, and we responded to him (accepted his teachings) and believed (what he said)’ It will be said (to him) ‘Sleep in peace; we have known that you were a true believer who believed with certainty.’ As for a hypocrite or a doubtful person, (the sub-narrator is not sure as to which word Asma’ said) he will say, ‘I do not know, but I heard the people saying something and so I said the same.’ ” Bukhari 1.4.84
Narrated Abu Bakr(RA) The solar eclipse occurred while we were sitting with the Prophet He got up dragging his garment (on the ground) hurriedly till he reached the mosque The people turned (to the mosque) and he offered a two-Rak’at prayer whereupon the eclipse was over and he traced us and said, “The sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah, soif you see a thing like this (eclipse) then offer the prayer and invoke Allah till He remove that state, Bukhari 007.072.676
Narrated Abu Mas’ud The Prophet said, “the sun and the moon do not eclipse because of the death or life of someone, but they are two signs amongst the Signs of Allah. So, if you see them, offer the Prayer (of eclipse).” Bukhari 004.054.426
Narrated ‘Aisha On the day of a solar eclipse, Allah’s Apostle stood up (to offer the eclipse prayer). He recited Takbir, recited a long recitation (of HolyVerses), bowed a long bowing, and then he raised h is head saying. “Allah hears him who sends his praises to Him.” Then he stayed standing, recited a long recitation again, but shorter than the former, bowed a long bowing, but shorter than the first, performed a long prostration and then performed the second Rak’a in the same way as he had done the first. By the time he had finished his prayer with Taslim, the solar eclipse had been over. Then he addressed the people referring to the solar and lunar eclipses saying, “These are two signsamongst the Signs of Allah, and they do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life. So, if you see them, hasten for the Prayer.” Bukhari 004.054.425
Narrated Abu Musa: The sun eclipsed and the Prophet got up, being afraid that it might be the Hour (i.e. Day of Judgment). He went to the Mosque and offered the prayer with the longest Qiyam, bowing and prostration that I had ever seen him doing. Then he said, “These signs which Allah sends do not occur because of the life or death of somebody, but Allah makes His worshipers afraid by them. So when you see anything thereof, proceed to remember Allah, invoke Him and ask for His forgiveness.”Bukhari 002.018.167
For all eclipse related hadith in bukhari click here
The Eclipse Prayer & Khutbah: Makkah 1431
Action Plan
1. Reflect on the significance of an eclipse.An eclipse is a sign of the majesty and power of Allah.
2. An eclipse can cause people to become frightened. When frightened, Muslims turn to Allah for patience and perseverance.
3. An eclipse is a reminder of the Day of Judgment.
4. Perform 2 rakaah salatal kusoof in congregation or individually. This salaah is sunnah muakaddah
5. Say takbir – Allahu akbar
6. Give sadaqa
7. Remember Allah
How to perform salaat al kusoof
The way in which Salaat al-Kusoof is done is :
- to pray two Rak’ahs in which Qur’aan is recited aloud,
- In the first Rak’ah, one should recite al-Faatihah and a long soorah such as Soorat al-Baqarah or the equivalent, then do a long rukoo’, then raise one’s head and say, “Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah, Rabbanaa wa laka’l-hamd (Allaah listens to the one who praises Him; our Lord to You be praise)”
- after standing upright, as in other prayers. Then one should then recite al-Faatihah and another long soorah, shorter than in the first recitation, equivalent in length to Soorat Aal ‘Imraan.
- Then one should do another long rukoo’ shorter than the first, and when raising one’s head, say, “Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah, Rabbanaa wa laka’l-hamd hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan fih, mal’ al-samawaati wa mal’ al-ard wa mal’ ma shi’ta min shay’in ba’d (Allaah listens to the one who praises Him; our Lord to You be praise, much good and blessed praise, filling heaven and earth and whatever You will besides that).”
- Then he should do two lengthy sujoods, without making the sitting between them too long.
- Then one should pray the second rak’ah like the first, with two long rukoo’s and two long sujoods, as he did in the first rak’ah.
- Then he should recite the Tashahhud and say the salaam
more on how to perform eclipse prayer according other schools