Salah (Prayer) For Eclipses

“I heard abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.), saying, ‘When Ibrahim son of the Messenger of Allah passed away three traditions were established. One tradition is that on that day a sun eclipse took place and people said that it is because of the death of the son of the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah went on the pulpit, praised Allah and glorified Him, then said, “O people, the sun and the moon are two signs of the signs of Allah which move because of His command and in obedience to Him. Their eclipse is not because of the death or life of anyone. If one or both of them eclipse perform Salah (prayer) for eclipse.” He climbed down the pulpit and performed Salah (prayer) because of eclipse with the people.’”

“We once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about Salah (prayer) because of eclipse. How many Rak‘at has it and how we perform it? He (the Imam) said, ‘It has ten Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees) and four Sajadat (prostrations). Salah (prayer) commences with Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), Ruku‘ is performed with Takbir and you raise your head with Takbir, except the fifth Takbir, after which you perform Sajdah (prostration), and say Allah hears those who praise Him. Say Qunut (supplication after recitation in second Rak‘at) in every two Rak‘at before Ruku‘ and prolong Qunut and Ruku‘ equal to the time for recitation, Ruku‘ and Sajdah (prostration). If you finish before it (sun or moon) is cleared, sit down and pray before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, until it is cleared. If it clears before you finish Salah (prayer), complete the remaining. Make the recitation loud.’ I then asked, ‘How is recitation in this Salah (prayer)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If you recite Surah (a chapter) in every Rak‘at, recite al-Fatihah al-Kitab, but if you reduce from Surah (chapter) something, then recite from where you left and do not recite al-Fatihah al-Kitab.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is desirable to recite al-Kahf (Chapter 18) and al-Hijr (Chapter 15), unless one is the Imam and is afraid of causing difficulties for people behind him. Your Salah (prayer) should be in the open, without being covered by a house, if you can do so. Salah (prayer) because of sun eclipse should be given more time than that because of moon eclipse, but Salah (prayer) because of both is equal in Ruku‘ and Sajdah.’”

“We once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the wind and darkness that at certain times come, is there any Salah (prayer) because of it? He (the Imam) said, ‘When anything frightening from the sky in the form of darkness, wind or noise takes place, perform Salah (prayer) like that of eclipse until it clears out.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the time of Salah (prayer) because of eclipse at sunrise and sunset if it can be performed at such time. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘It is obligatory.’”

“I once asked one of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about performing Salah (prayer) because of eclipse at the time of obligatory Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘Begin with obligatory Salah (prayer).’ He (the Imam) was asked, ‘Can it be performed in the time of nightly optional Salah (prayer)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Perform Salah (prayer) because of eclipse before nightly optional Salah (prayer).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When a total sun eclipse takes place but you do not notice it and come to know about it later, you must perform Qada’ (compensatory prayer for) such Salah (prayer), but if it is not a total eclipse, you are not required to perform anything.’”

“I once wrote to him (the Imam), Alayhi al-Salam, asking, ‘If a sun or moon eclipse takes place and I am riding and unable to dismount what must I do?’ He (the Imam) wrote to me, ‘Perform Salah (prayer) on your stumper which you ride.’”