Abu Dawud

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: From this hadith, another method of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam during the solar eclipse becomes apparent. It seems that the eclipse of the sun was not very severe. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam began the prayer, and during it, he continued to raise his hands and glorify, praise, declare the oneness, and magnify Allah, that is: (Subhanallah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar), repeatedly supplicating with these phrases. And the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam led a two-unit (rak‘ah) prayer in the usual manner of a regular prayer, and performed one bowing (ruku‘) in each unit. Therefore, he recited one surah in each unit, and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam performed the second unit after the sun had become bright. Or, it could also mean that when the sun became bright, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had already recited two surahs and completed two units. It does not mean that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam began the prayer after the sun became bright, as might be inferred from the apparent wording of the hadith, because in that case, there would be a contradiction between the beginning and the end of the hadith. In the beginning, it is stated that when I arrived, the Prophet was standing and praying, and from this hadith, it is understood that this eclipse was different from the previously mentioned eclipses, and this is also evidence for the multiplicity of eclipses.

1461. Commentary:

➊ Before a solar or lunar eclipse, two units (rak‘ahs) of prayer should be performed, making them as lengthy as possible. Then, tasbihat (words of glorification), takbirat (words of magnification), and supplications should be recited until the eclipse ends.

➋ From the aforementioned hadith, it appears that perhaps the tasbihat, takbirat, and supplications come first and the prayer afterwards. However, this is not correct, because all the narrations related to this topic are contrary to this. In fact, in Sahih Muslim, it is narrated from Abdur Rahman bin Samurah radi Allahu anhu himself, who states that when I reached the mosque, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was in prayer. See: (Sahih Muslim, al-Kusuf, Hadith: 912). Therefore, although some imams and scholars have offered various interpretations of this, in light of the evidence and by reconciling all the narrations, the preferred position appears to be that mentioning tasbih, takbir, and supplication before the prayer in the aforementioned narration is a mistake or confusion on the part of a narrator. And Allah knows best. Also, Shaykh al-Albani rahimahullah has written the same in his research on this hadith, stating: «أما نحن فنراھا خطاأ من بعض الرواۃ عن الجریری ، واللہ أعلم ۔ » For further details, see: (Sifat Salat an-Nabi sallallahu alayhi wa sallam li Salat al-Kusuf, pp. 68–74, Hadith no. 14, Dhakheerat al-‘Uqba Sharh Sunan an-Nasa’i: 16/389–391).

➌ On the occasion of an eclipse, the command is to perform prayer, repentance, and tasbihat. It is as if, when there is any change in the manifestations of Allah’s power, we too should take heed and, turning away from the world, turn our attention to Allah the Exalted.