Nasai

Hadith Commentary: Explanation:
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah himself has later on connected (the chain of narration), even though the eclipse (solar or lunar) occurs due to the interposition of the earth or the moon, about which there is now no doubt remaining.
To such an extent that astronomers and experts in celestial mechanics can predict the exact time of a lunar or solar eclipse, and in which country it will be visible and to what extent, beforehand; and through experience, it turns out to be absolutely accurate, with not the slightest difference. However, this does not cause any disruption to the meaning of the hadith, because the Lord Almighty displays His power and might by showing how He can darken such great and luminous celestial bodies like the sun and the moon in an instant.
His greatness, power, and the order of the universe should cause the servants to be in awe at every moment, and whoever denies the habitual and calculable nature of the lunar and solar eclipses is, in the view of the rational people, worthy of ridicule.
(Maulana Waheed uz-Zaman, rahimahullah)

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah wishes to emphasize the importance of the noble statement of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, that by darkening the sun and the moon, Allah ta'ala intends to instill fear in His servants so that they may turn towards Him and present offerings of repentance and seeking forgiveness in His presence. They should not consider it as play or amusement. The statement of Allah ta'ala is:
﴿وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِالْآيَاتِ إِلَّا تَخْوِيفًا ﴿٥٩﴾) (Bani Isra'il 17:58)
“We do not send the signs except to instill fear (in the people).”
Therefore, the servants should, in such circumstances, be diligent in performing prayer, giving charity and alms, and, with fear, repent and seek forgiveness before Allah.

(2)
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, at the end of the hadith, has mentioned some corroborating narrations (mutaba‘at), stating that some students of Yunus did not narrate the final words of the hadith. Among them is ‘Abd al-Warith. Imam Bukhari himself has narrated his report (under number: 1063). Similarly, in the chapter on the lunar eclipse (under number: 1062), he has mentioned the narration of Shu‘bah, in which these words are not present. And the narration of Khalid ibn ‘Abdullah (under number: 1040) has already been mentioned. The narration of Hammad ibn Salamah has been transmitted by Imam Tabarani with a connected chain. (Fath al-Bari: 2/692) Likewise, Ash‘ath ibn ‘Abd al-Malik has transmitted this narration from Hasan al-Basri, and in it as well, the final words of the hadith are not present. This narration has been transmitted by Imam al-Nasa’i and Ibn Hibban with a connected chain. (Sunan al-Nasa’i, al-Kusuf, Hadith: 1493)

(3)
Modern science has advanced to such an extent that, through it, predictions can be made in advance regarding the solar and lunar eclipses—when and in which country the sun or moon will be eclipsed, whether the eclipse will be total or partial, and how long it will last. From the perspective of experience, these predictions are absolutely accurate, without the slightest discrepancy. However, despite this, there is no difference in the meaning of the hadith, because Allah ta'ala, by His perfect power, manifests that He can darken such great celestial bodies as the sun and the moon in an instant. Therefore, His greatness and majesty should be acknowledged, and His power and awe should cause the servants to remain in constant fear of Him. (Fath al-Bari: 2/693)

Hadith Commentary:
In this hadith, there is a clear mention of the lunar eclipse, and this is precisely the objective of the chapter.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has narrated the hadith of Abu Bakrah radi Allahu anhu first in a concise form and then in detail, in which it is clarified that the sun and the moon are among the signs of Allah. When either of them is eclipsed, perform prayer. From this, Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has established the prescription of prayer at the time of a lunar eclipse (khusuf al-qamar). In the hadith narrated from Abdullah ibn Amr radi Allahu anhu, it is clarified that whenever either the sun or the moon is eclipsed, perform prayer.

(2)
Some individuals are of the opinion that, since at night people face hardship in coming and going, prayer is not legislated at the time of a lunar eclipse. However, in light of these ahadith, the aforementioned position is questionable.

1460. Commentary:

➊ "Two signs" means that the sun and the moon themselves are signs of Allah, through which the immense power of Allah becomes evident. Or, their being eclipsed is among Allah’s signs. When both are under Allah’s control, power, and management, then how can anyone’s death or birth have any effect on them?

➋ The people of that era believed that when a great person dies or is born, the sun or moon is eclipsed. The mentioned eclipse occurred at the time of the death of the Prophet’s (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) son, Ibrahim (radi Allahu anhu). When people associated it with his death, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) refuted this. (Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Kusuf, Hadith: 1043, and Sahih Muslim, al-Kusuf, Hadith: 915)

➌ According to astronomers, the moon’s light is not its own; rather, it appears bright because the sun’s light falls upon it. When the sun’s light does not fall upon it, it is not visible. Therefore, when the earth comes between the sun and the moon, the earth’s obstruction prevents the light from reaching the moon. This is called a lunar eclipse, and it can occur on the thirteenth or fourteenth night of the lunar month, not before or after. And when the moon comes between the earth and the sun, the portion of the sun that is covered by the moon will not be visible from the earth. This is called a solar eclipse, and it can occur in the last one or two days of the lunar month, not before or after. The eclipsing of the sun and moon is according to the movement of the earth and the moon; therefore, their exact timing can be calculated in advance.

➍ "He frightens (with it)"—In the same way, the setting of the sun and the absence of the full moon at the beginning and end of the month are also similar to an eclipse, but since these are everyday occurrences, they do not cause any wonder or astonishment. However, an eclipse happens only occasionally, so it causes amazement, and a person becomes fearful and is more inclined to take admonition from Allah’s signs. And at such times, the command is also that one should repent, seek forgiveness, and turn towards Allah.

1503. Commentary: Supplication (dua) can be made within the eclipse prayer (salat al-kusuf), as well as before or after it, both individually and collectively.