Wisdom Behind Lunar and Solar Eclipses in the Light of Qur’an and Hadith
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
What is the wisdom behind lunar and solar eclipses?
❖ Answer:
The sun and the moon are two great signs of Allah ﷻ. When they lose their light, people naturally become fearful. In such a situation, Islam guides us that a servant should stand humbly before his Lord, acknowledge his weakness, and turn to Him. This strengthens the heart, creates a unique scene of piety and devotion to Allah, and becomes a means of practicing the Sunnah.
إن الشمس والقمر لا ينكسفان لموت أحد من الناس، ولكنهما آيتان من آيات الله، فإذا رأيتموهما، فقوموا، فصلوا
The sun and the moon do not eclipse due to the death of anyone. Rather, they are among the signs of Allah. When you see them, stand and pray.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1041, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 901, narrated by Abu Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه)
✿ Wisdoms Mentioned by the Scholars
① Refuting the worshippers of the sun and moon:
Those who worship the sun and the moon are shown the weakness of their supposed deities. They cannot be creators, because they themselves are under the command of Allah, Who alters them as He wills.
لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
(Sūrah Fuṣṣilat: 37)
Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them, if it is truly Him that you worship.
② Awakening the heedless:
Through such changes in great creations like the sun and moon, heedless people are reminded to return to the true Owner and the All-Powerful Lord. That is why, during an eclipse, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would rush to his Lord, repent, seek forgiveness, and command others to do the same.
إن الشمس والقمر آيتان من آيات الله، لا يخسفان لموت أحد ولا لحياته، فإذا رأيتم ذلك، فادعوا الله، وكبروا، وصلوا، وتصدقوا
The sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah. They do not eclipse due to the death or life of anyone. When you see them, then supplicate to Allah, glorify Him, pray, and give charity.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1044, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 901)
③ A glimpse of the Day of Judgment:
An eclipse presents a scene of the Day of Resurrection, when both the sun and moon will lose their light.
وَخَسَفَ الْقَمَرُ وَجُمِعَ الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ
(Sūrah al-Qiyāmah: 8–9)
When the moon is eclipsed, and the sun and the moon are brought together.
④ Manifestation of Allah’s Majesty and Power:
The eclipse demonstrates Allah’s absolute might—that the One Who can darken such massive, radiant creations like the sun and moon, is surely capable of bringing death upon the smallest of His creation.
