Truth About Islam, Eclipse Prayers, and Atheist ObjectionsWritten by: Muhammad Nouman Bukhari
🗯 The Objection
Atheists argue that Islam is a religion of fear, claiming that in the absence of scientific knowledge, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used natural phenomena like solar and lunar eclipses to instill fear and compel Muslims to pray. They say these events are simply astronomical occurrences with straightforward scientific explanations and do not require religious rituals.
❶ Islamic Teachings vs. Pre-Islamic Superstitions
Islam promotes understanding through reason, knowledge, and observable truth, not superstition.
In the age of ignorance (Jāhiliyyah), people held strange beliefs regarding eclipses:
- Eclipses were thought to be caused by an angry celestial dragon devouring the sun or moon.
- Others believed a solar eclipse signified the death of a great person.
Islam completely refuted these myths and offered rational guidance.
On the day the Prophet’s ﷺ son Ibrāhīm (RA) passed away, a solar eclipse occurred. Some said it was because of the child’s death. The Prophet ﷺ immediately corrected them:"The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of the death or life of anyone. Rather, they are among the signs of Allah. So when you see them, pray."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitāb al-Kusūf)
❷ Scientific Explanation of Eclipses in Light of Islam
Islam acknowledges that eclipses are natural signs created by Allah to prompt reflection on His power.
Scientific Breakdown of Eclipses:- A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the earth and the sun.
- A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth comes between the sun and the moon.
Unique Scale and Positioning:- The sizes and distances of the earth, moon, and sun are proportioned in such a way that they appear nearly the same size from Earth.
- This precise alignment is unique to our planet and not observable elsewhere in the universe.
"This is the measurement of Allah, the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing."
(Al-Qur'an)
These remarkable cosmic arrangements testify to a planned, intentional design.
❸ Eclipse Prayers: Fear or Reverence for Divine Power?
Islam views eclipses not as sources of terror, but as manifestations of divine majesty.
The purpose of Salāt al-Kusūf (solar eclipse prayer) and Salāt al-Khusūf (lunar eclipse prayer) is to:✔ Reflect on Allah’s grandeur
✔ Acknowledge His absolute power
✔ Express one’s servitude and humility
The state of believers:"Indeed, the believers are those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith."
(Al-Anfāl: 2)
This trembling is not fear in the negative sense, but an expression of profound awe and reverence.
❹ A Scientific Message to Atheists
Did the universe create itself?- Science estimates 125 billion galaxies, each with over 200 billion stars.
- Among this vast cosmos, Earth is uniquely suitable for life.
Can such precision and balance be mere coincidence? Eclipses demonstrate the mathematical fine-tuning of the cosmos, pointing to an intelligent planner.
Albert Einstein once said:"The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible."
This insight highlights that the rational structure of the universe demands the presence of a higher intelligent Creator.
❺ Boundaries of Science and Religion
Science explains how the universe works—its mechanisms.🕊 Religion explains why—its purpose and meaning.
✔ Science may recognize the order in the universe,
✔ But only religion tells us who created that order and why.
Islam bridges this gap, guiding humanity through both reason and revelation.
Conclusion
Islam is a religion of peace, reason, and truth, firmly rooted in natural reality.
Those who link Islam with superstition or fear are often unfamiliar with its depth, clarity, and rational foundations.
Eclipses in Islam are not tools of fear, but reminders of divine order, calling mankind to humility, reflection, and spiritual awareness.
