The Method of Solar and Lunar Eclipse Prayers According to Authentic Hadith
Compiled by: Tauheed.com
❖ Purpose of Eclipse Prayers
Allah Almighty created the sun and moon as great signs of His power. When eclipses occur, they are reminders and warnings for His servants, not superstitions linked to human events. The Prophet ﷺ taught the Ummah to turn towards prayer, supplication, and seeking forgiveness, instead of falling into worldly myths.
❖ Ḥadīth Evidence
① Eclipses are a Sign, Not Death or Birth of Anyone
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ … فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا فَصَلُّوا وَادْعُوا اللَّهَ حَتَّى يُكْشَفَ مَا بِكُمْ
Indeed, the sun and moon are two of Allah’s signs. Allah uses them to frighten His servants. They do not eclipse due to anyone’s death or life. When you see them, pray and call upon Allah until it clears.
(Bukhārī 1041; Muslim 911)
② The Prophet ﷺ Feared It Might Be the Hour
Abū Mūsā رضي الله عنه said:
The sun eclipsed, and the Prophet ﷺ, fearing it might be the Hour, rushed to the mosque. He prayed with the longest standing, bowing, and prostration I ever saw. Then he said: “These signs Allah sends are not for anyone’s death or life, but to frighten His servants. When you see them, rush to His remembrance, supplication, and forgiveness.”
(Bukhārī 1059; Muslim 912)
❖ Sunnah Method of Eclipse Prayers
The eclipse prayer is two rakʿahs, but with two bowings (rukūʿ) in each rakʿah, making a total of four rukūʿ and four sujūd.
Step-by-step:
- Say takbīrat al-iḥrām.
- Recite duʿā al-istiftāḥ and taʿawwudh.
- Recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and a long recitation.
- Perform a long rukūʿ.
- Rise, saying: Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah, Rabbana wa laka al-ḥamd.
- Recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah again, then a recitation shorter than the first.
- Perform a second rukūʿ, shorter than the first.
- Rise and stand with a lengthy qiyām, then perform two long sujūd, with a long sitting between them.
- In the second rakʿah, repeat the same steps but shorter than the first rakʿah.
- Conclude with tashahhud and salām.
Reference: al-Mughnī by Ibn Qudāmah (3/323), al-Majmūʿ by al-Nawawī (5/48)
❖ Ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها
She narrated that during the Prophet’s ﷺ lifetime, the sun eclipsed. He led the people in prayer:
- Long recitation → long rukūʿ → recitation shorter than the first → rukūʿ shorter than the first → sujūd.
- He repeated the same in the second rakʿah.
- Thus, the prayer consisted of four rukūʿ and four sujūd.
(Bukhārī 1046; Muslim 2129)
❖ Summary
- Eclipse prayers (Ṣalāt al-Kusūf for solar, Ṣalāt al-Khusūf for lunar) are two rakʿahs.
- Each rakʿah includes two rukūʿ and two sujūd.
- The recitation, bowing, and prostration are longer than in normal prayers.
- Alongside prayer, one should engage in remembrance, supplication, and seeking forgiveness, to humble the heart before Allah’s signs.
