Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Jabir narrates that during the time of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when his son Ibrahim passed away, the sun was eclipsed. People said that the sun was eclipsed because of Ibrahim’s death. Upon this, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led the people in prayer with six bowings (ruku) and four prostrations (sajdah). First, he said the takbeer, then recited (Qur’an) and made a long recitation, then bowed for a duration equal to the standing. Then he raised his head from ruku, then recited less than the first recitation, then bowed for a duration equal to the standing. Then he raised his head from ruku and recited less than the second recitation, then bowed for a duration equal to that standing. Then he raised his head from ruku and bent down for prostration and performed two prostrations. Then he stood up and performed three bowings, each preceding ruku being longer than the following one. And his bowings were equal in length to his prostrations. Then he moved back and the people standing in rows behind him also moved back, until they reached the women. Then he moved forward and the people moved forward with him until he stood at his place. Then, when the sun became bright again, he completed the prayer and then said: O people! The sun and the moon are signs of Allah; they are not eclipsed because of anyone’s death. When you see them eclipsed, pray until they become bright again.