The adhkār prescribed for eclipses

IT IS SUNNAH, during an eclipse of the sun and the moon, to perform dhikr of Allah and du‘ā’ in abundance. It is also Sunnah to perform a ṣalāh for it, according to the consensus of the Muslims.

We relate in the Ṣaḥīḥs of al-Bukhārī and Muslim from ‘Ā’ishah who reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “The sun and the moon are both signs of Allah and they do not eclipse for the death of anyone, or for his life. So when you see [them in eclipse] supplicate to Allah and magnify Him, and give charity.” ^[1].Another hadith from their Ṣaḥīḥs reads: “If you see that, then remember Allah .” Something identical is related from Ibn ‘Abbās.

We relate in the same Ṣaḥīḥs from Abū Mūsā al-Ash‘arī who related that the Prophet said: “If you see anything like this then seek help through dhikr of Allah and du‘ā’, and ask Him for forgiveness.” ^[2].

And they both relate in their Ṣaḥīḥs, from al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah, who said: “When you see it. . .supplicate Allah and pray.” Al-Bukhārī narrated something like this from Abū Bakrah. And Allah knows best.

And in the Ṣaḥīḥ of Muslim from ‘Abd ar-Raḥmān ibn Samurah , who reported: “I came to the Prophet while the sun was in eclipse. He was standing in ṣalāh and raising his hands. He said tasbīḥ, tahlīl, takbīr and taḥmīd, and supplicated until it became light again. When it was over, he recited two chapters [of Qur’ān] and performed two rak‘ahs of ṣalāh.” ^[3].

I say: the word ḥusira, with ḍammah on the letter ḥā’ and kasrah on the letter sīn, means kushifa, ‘it was uncovered or unveiled’, or julliya, ‘it was disclosed’.

It is mustaḥabb to lengthen the recitation in the ṣalāh for the eclipse. While standing in the first rak‘ah the worshipper should recite the equivalent of Sūrat al-Baqarah. In the second, he should recite the equivalent of two hundred verses. In the third, he should recite the equivalent of one hundred and fifty verses. In the fourth, he should recite the equivalent of one hundred verses. It is mustaḥabb that the first rukū‘ be as long as [reciting] one hundred verses, and the second as long as seventy verses; the third should be the same and the fourth should be as long as fifty verses. The sujūd should be as long as the rukū‘, so that the first sajdah is as long as the first rukū‘ and the second as long as the second rukū‘. This is the correct opinion, although there is well-known disagreement amongst our scholars.

There should be no doubt as to why I have mentioned the preferability of prolonging the sujūd, as it is well-known in most of the books of our [Shāfi‘ī] colleagues that it should not be prolonged; but this is both weak and wrong. Rather, the correct opinion is that one should prolong it. This is established in the Ṣaḥīḥayn from the Messenger of Allah though many channels. I have clarified and explained the evidences and supporting narrations in Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab. I have alluded here to what I have already mentioned, so that no one is misled by the difference. Ash-Shāfi‘ī has said in places that it is mustaḥabb to prolong [the sujūd]. And Allah knows best.

It is Sunnah to recite aloud during an eclipse of the sun but silently during an eclipse of the moon. Then, after the ṣalāh, [the khaṭīb] should deliver two khuṭbahs enjoining fear of Allah and encouraging obedience to Allah, charity, and the freeing of slaves. This has been established by authentic hadiths. He should also encourage gratitude to Allah and warn about heedlessness and deception. And Allah knows best.

We relate in the Ṣaḥīḥ of al-Bukhārī as well as others from Asmā’ , who recorded that the Messenger of Allah enjoined that slaves be liberated when there was an eclipse of the sun. ^[4].And Allah knows best.