How to Perform Salat al-Kusuf (Solar Eclipse Prayer)
✍️ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ Definition and Linguistic Background:
Salat al-Kusuf refers to the prayer offered during a solar or lunar eclipse. In Arabic grammar, various forms are used to express the concept:
- كَسَفَ (Kasafa – Daraba pattern)
- تَكَسَّفَ (Takassafa – Tafʿīl pattern)
- إِنْكَسَفَ (Inkasa – Infiʿāl pattern)
All of these imply the phenomenon of the sun or moon becoming eclipsed. The term “Kusuf” is commonly used for solar eclipse, while “Khusuf” is typically used for lunar eclipse, as preferred by some linguists.
📚 [Al-Qāmūs al-Muḥīṭ, Al-Munjid, Aṣ-Ṣiḥāḥ, Fatḥ al-Bārī 3/234, Subul as-Salām 2/689]
❖ The Prophetic Command:
Narrated by Mughīrah ibn Shuʿbah رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:
❝The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah. They do not eclipse due to anyone’s life or death.
When you see them in that state, supplicate to Allah and perform prayer until the eclipse clears.❞
📖 [Bukhari: 1043; Muslim: 915]
In another narration:
❝When you see them, rush towards prayer.❞
📖 [Bukhari: 1046; Muslim: 901; Muwaṭṭa: 1/186; Abū Dāwūd: 1177; Tirmidhī: 558; Nasā’ī: 3/132; Ibn Mājah: 1263]
❖ Is the Prayer Obligatory?
✔ Imam al-Shawkānī رحمه الله: The apparent meaning suggests obligation. However, if the consensus on non-obligation is valid, it would override this.
📘 [As-Sayl al-Jarrār: 1/323]
✔ Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله: There is no valid consensus, so the correct view is that the prayer is obligatory.
📘 [At-Taʿlīqāt ar-Raḍiyyah: 1/410; Tamām al-Minnah: p. 264]
✔ Imam Abū ʿAwānah رحمه الله titled a chapter:
“The Obligation of Salat al-Kusuf”
📘 [Ṣaḥīḥ Abū ʿAwānah: 2/366]
✔ Imam Abū Ḥanīfah رحمه الله: Salat al-Kusuf is wājib (obligatory).
📘 [Badāʾiʿ aṣ-Ṣanāʾiʿ: 1/280]
✔ The Majority (Jumhūr): It is a Sunnah Mu’akkadah (emphasized Sunnah).
📘 [Subul as-Salām: 2/690]
✔ Preferred View: The stance of the majority is considered the strongest.
❖ Method of Performing Salat al-Kusuf:
The most authentic narration indicates that the prayer consists of two Rakʿahs, and each Rakʿah contains two Rukūʿs (bowings).
★ Narration from Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما:
During the eclipse, the Prophet ﷺ led the prayer. In each Rakʿah:
- He recited a lengthy passage equal to Surah al-Baqarah
- Made a long rukūʿ
- Stood again for a second lengthy recitation, slightly shorter than the first
- Performed another rukūʿ, shorter than the first
- Then went to sujūd
The same was repeated in the second Rakʿah, and the eclipse ended when he concluded.
📖 [Bukhari: 1052; Muslim: 907; Muwaṭṭa: 186/1; Abū Dāwūd: 1181; Nasā’ī: 3/146]
❖ Other Variants of Rukūʿ:
✔ 6 Rukūʿs in 2 Rakʿahs (from Jābir رضي الله عنه)
📖 [Muslim: 904; Abū Dāwūd: 1178; Bayhaqī: 3/325]
✔ 8 Rukūʿs in 2 Rakʿahs (from Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما)
📖 [Muslim: 909; Abū Dāwūd: 1183; Nasā’ī: 3/129]
✔ 5 Rukūʿs in One Rakʿah – Narrated from Ubayy ibn Kaʿb رضي الله عنه
However, this narration is weak due to problematic chains.
📚 [Daʿīf Abū Dāwūd: 251; al-Mīzān: 5/385]
❖ Intermediate Recitation Between Rukūʿs:
In some narrations, a recitation is done between each rukūʿ within the same Rakʿah:
❝He recited, bowed, recited again, bowed again, and then went to sujūd.❞
📖 [Muslim: 909; Abū Dāwūd: 1183; Nasā’ī: 3/129; Ibn Khuzaymah: 1385]
❖ Reports with Single Rukūʿ (Considered Weak):
➊ Samurah رضي الله عنه
📚 [Daʿīf Abū Dāwūd: 253; Tirmidhī: 86]
➋ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr رضي الله عنه
📚 [Daʿīf Abū Dāwūd: 257]
➌ ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Samurah رضي الله عنه
📖 [Muslim: 913] – The wording suggests two Rakʿahs but not clearly about Rukūʿs.
✔ Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله: These do not explicitly confirm one rukūʿ and thus cannot be relied upon.
📘 [At-Taʿlīqāt ar-Raḍiyyah: 1/412]
✔ Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله: The narrations with repeated Rukūʿs are more authentic and comprehensive, transmitted by senior Companions.
📘 [Iʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn: 2/369]
❖ Is It One Incident or Multiple?
✔ Major scholars affirm that the eclipse event happened only once in the life of the Prophet ﷺ.
- Amīr Ṣanʿānī, Ibn Qayyim, al-Shawkānī, al-Albānī affirm this.
📚 [Subul as-Salām 2/696; Zād al-Maʿād: 1/453; Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/641; Tamām al-Minnah: p. 263]
✔ In that case, preference is given to the narration with two Rukūʿs, which is found in the Ṣaḥīḥayn (Bukhari & Muslim).
✔ This is also the position of:
- Ibn Taymiyyah, Imām Mālik, Aḥmad, Shāfiʿī, al-Bukhārī
📘 [Zād al-Maʿād: 1/453]
✔ Shawkānī: There is no doubt, the two Rukūʿs narration is the most authentic.
📘 [Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/635]
❖ Recommended Actions During Eclipse:
❀ Supplication, Takbīr, Charity, and Seeking Forgiveness are all recommended (mustaḥabb) during an eclipse.
➊ Supplication:
📖 [Bukhari: 1060; Muslim: 915]
➋ Remembrance (Dhikr), Takbīr, Salah, Charity:
📖 [Bukhari: 1044; Muslim: 901; Muwaṭṭa: 1/186]
➌ Dhikr, Duʿā, Istighfār:
📖 [Bukhari: 1059; Muslim: 912]
❖ Summary of Method:
❀ Salat al-Kusuf consists of:
➤ Two Rakʿahs,
➤ Two Rukūʿs per Rakʿah,
➤ Long standing (Qiyām) and Recitation,
➤ No Adhān or Iqāmah,
➤ Silent or Audible Recitation depending on scholarly opinion,
➤ Accompanied by Duʿā, Dhikr, Takbīr, Sadaqah, and Istighfār.
