Chapter Eight: The Eclipse Prayer

باب صَلوةَ الكُسُوفِ

Bab Salat al-Kusuf — The Prayer at the Time of Solar Eclipse

The eclipse prayer (salat al-kusuf for a solar eclipse, salat al-khusuf for a lunar eclipse) is a confirmed sunnah. It was established by the Prophet, peace be upon him, on the occasion of a solar eclipse that coincided with the death of his son Ibrahim. The Prophet corrected the popular belief that eclipses are caused by the death or birth of great men, clarifying that they are signs of Allah's power and occasions for worship, supplication, and repentance.

عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ شُعْبَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ يَوْمَ مَاتَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ، فَقَالَ النَّاسُ: انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ لِمَوْتِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لَا يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلَا لِحَيَاتِهِ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُمَا فَادْعُوا اللَّهَ وَصَلُّوا حَتَّى يَنْجَلِيَ

On the authority of al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah (may Allah be pleased with him): 'The sun was eclipsed on the day Ibrahim died. The people said: "The sun has been eclipsed because of the death of Ibrahim." The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "The sun and moon do not eclipse because of the death or birth of anyone. When you see them [eclipse], call upon Allah and pray until it clears."' (Agreed upon: Bukhari and Muslim)

The eclipse prayer is performed in congregation, without an adhan but with the call 'Al-Salatu Jami'ah' (The prayer is gathered). It consists of two rak'ats, each of which contains two rukus (bowings) — making it distinct from a normal prayer. The recitation in each rak'at is long, and the ruku' and sujud are also prolonged.

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ صَلَّى فِي الْكُسُوفِ فَقَرَأَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ

On the authority of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): 'The Prophet, peace be upon him, prayed during the eclipse, reciting, then bowing, then reciting, then bowing, then reciting, then bowing, then reciting, then bowing, then prostrating.' (Sahih Muslim) — This is the basis for the two-ruku' per rak'at structure of the eclipse prayer.