Muntaqa Ibn Jarud

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the sun was eclipsed, so he led the people in the (eclipse) prayer. He stood for a long time, reciting (Qur’an) equal to Surah Al-Baqarah, then he performed a long bowing (ruku’), then after raising his head from ruku’, he stood for a long time, which was shorter than the first standing, then he performed a long ruku’, which was shorter than the first ruku’, then he prostrated. Ibn Yahya says: Perhaps both of them also said: Then he stood up. Then he stood for a long time, which was shorter than the previous standing, then he performed a long ruku’, which was shorter than the previous ruku’, then after raising his head from ruku’, he stood for a long time, which was shorter than the previous one, then he performed a long ruku’, which was shorter than the previous ruku’, then he prostrated, then he concluded the prayer with salam, and by then the eclipse had ended. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The sun and the moon are among the signs of Allah, they do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life. When you see such a thing, remember Allah. The companions asked: O Messenger of Allah! We saw you take something from this place, then we saw you step back on your heels. He said: I saw Paradise, or Paradise was shown to me, so I wanted to take a bunch (of its fruit). If I had taken it, you would have eaten from it as long as the world remains. And I also saw Hell; I have never seen a scene as (terrible) as I saw today. I saw that most of its inhabitants were women. The people asked: O Messenger of Allah! What is the reason for that? He said: Their ingratitude. Someone asked: Do they show ingratitude to Allah? He said: They are ungrateful to their husbands and do not acknowledge favors. If you do good to a woman (wife) all your life, then she sees something in you that she dislikes, she says: I have never seen any good in you. This narration was also mentioned by Rabi’ bin Sulayman from Imam Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him), but it does not contain the words of doubt (thumma rafa’a) from Muhammad bin Yahya.

The noble wife of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), narrates that during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the sun was eclipsed. He came to the mosque, stood for prayer, said «الله اكبر», and the people formed rows behind him. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) recited a long recitation, then said «الله اكبر» and performed a long bowing (ruku‘), then raised his head and recited this supplication: «سمع الله لمن حمده ربنا ولك الحمد», then stood and recited a long recitation, which was shorter than the first, then said «الله اكبر» and performed a long bowing, which was shorter than the first, then recited this supplication: «سمع الله لمن حمده رهنا ولك الحمد», then performed the second rak‘ah in the same manner, thus completing four bowings and four prostrations. Before the Prophet (peace be upon him) finished, the sun became clear. Then he stood and delivered a sermon to the people and praised Allah as is His due, then said: The sun and the moon are among the signs of Allah, they do not eclipse due to the death or life of anyone. When you see an eclipse, immediately begin to pray.

Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the sun was eclipsed. The Prophet stood up for prayer and performed a very long standing (qiyam), then a very long bowing (ruku’), then he stood up again and performed another long standing, which was shorter than the first, then he bowed, which was shorter than the first bowing, then he prostrated. Then he stood up and performed a long standing, which was shorter than the previous one, then he bowed, which was shorter than the previous one, then he raised his head and performed another long standing, which was shorter than the previous one, then he bowed, which was shorter than the previous one, then he prostrated. When he finished the prayer, the eclipse had ended. He stood and delivered a sermon to the people, and after praising and glorifying Allah, he said: The sun and the moon are among the signs of Allah, they do not eclipse because of the death or life of anyone. When you see such a phenomenon, then pray, give charity, and remember Allah. Then he said: O Ummah of Muhammad! By Allah! No one is more possessive than Allah the Exalted when His servant, male or female, commits adultery. O Ummah of Muhammad! If you knew what I know, you would weep much and laugh little.

Sayyida Asma bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the freeing of slaves during a lunar eclipse.

Sayyida Asma bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her) said: During a lunar eclipse, we were commanded to free slaves.