As salamu alaikum,
With the Will of Allah there will be a full lunar eclipse today. In accoradance with the Sunnah we should enage ourselves in dhikr, tilawaat, dua, sadaqah and most especially CONGREGATIONAL SALAH. This is a time to fear Allah and not for sight seeing. Eclipses are from the Signs of Allah Ta'ala Greatness and are there to make us Fear Him Azza wa Jal.
Can someone post up links on how to do the special salatul kusoof?
Jazakallah khairun
As salamu alaikum
Solar and Lunar Eclipses
The eclipse of the sun or the moon is amongst the signs of the power and majesty of Allah, which are revealed occasionally within his creation. When such events occur, the bondsmen should bow down, in all humbleness, before the Absolute, the All-powerful One and beseech Him for mercy and forgiveness.
A solar eclipse once occured at the Prophet's time. The Sahabah (RA) left their jobs. Even young boys who were practising archery hastened towards the mosque to see what the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would do at that time. The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam started two rak'ats of Salaah, which were so long that some people fainted and fell down. He wept in his Salaah and said, "O, my Lord! Thou hast said that thou wouldst not punish them as long as I am amongst them and so long as they seek forgiveness". He then addressed the people saying, "You should hasten for Salaah whenever you happen to find the sun or moon in eclipse. If you happen to know the signs of the last day as I do then surely you would weep more and laugh less. In all such happenings, make haste towards Salaah; pray to Allah and distribute alms to the poor".
The hadith of eclipse is repeated many times. In another quotation from Mughira bin Shu'ba (RA) it is narrated, "The sun eclipsed in the lifetime of Allah's Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam on the day when his son Ibrahim died. So the people said that the sun had eclipsed because of the death of Ibrahim. The Prophet of Allah said, "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of the death or life (birth) of someone. When you see an eclipse, offer Salaah and invoke Allah".
It is narrated by Abu Musa (RA) that once the sun was eclipsed and the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam got up, fearing that it may be the final hour (i.e. The day of judgement). He went to the mosque and offered Salaah with the lengthiest qiyam (standing posture), ruku and sajda I had ever seen him doing. Then he said, "These signs which Allah sends do not occur because of the life or death of somebody, but Allah frightens his worshippers with them. So when you see anything thereof, proceed to remember Allah, invoke Him and ask for his forgiveness.
A list of things to do during an eclipse:
Engage in performing Salaah
Make excessive Dua
Do Zikr; say Allahu-Akbar
Give Sadqa (charity)
To offer 2 rak'ats of prayer at the time of a solar eclipse is Sunnah. It will be performed just like 2 rak'ats of Nafl Salaah. The solar eclipse prayer should be offered in congregation provided the Imaam of the congregation is the Imaam of Jumma prayer. Azaan and iqamat should not be given for such a prayer, but to call the people to such a prayer, an announcement should be made in this manner; 'Gather for Prayer'. It is Sunnah to recite lengthy surahs in such prayers and stay longer in Ruku and Sajdah. It is optional to recite aloud or quietly. Immediately after concluding the prayer, the Imaam should devote himself to Dua and the Dua should continue up to the end of the eclipse. But if in this condition the sun sets or the time of any prescribed prayer comes, the Dua should be concluded and the prayer of the time should be offered.
Note: If for some reason, the Imaam is not available, then people should perform Salaah individually.
The eclipse begins at 2018 GMT, with the Moon totally immersed in the shadow of the Earth between 2244 and 2358 GMT.
The eclipse will be visible from the whole of Europe, Africa, South America, and eastern parts of the US and Canada.
This was put up yesterday so, I don't know if it's still true.
Eclipse set to be 'best in years'
Skywatchers eagerly awaiting Saturday's total lunar eclipse say that the spectacle could be the "best in years".
The eclipse begins at 2018 GMT, with the Moon totally immersed in the shadow of the Earth between 2244 and 2358 GMT.
During "totality", only light that has been filtered through the Earth's atmosphere reaches the Moon's surface, making it appear a reddish colour.
The eclipse will be visible from the whole of Europe, Africa, South America, and eastern parts of the US and Canada.
"They are beautiful events," said Robert Massey, spokesman for the UK's Royal Astronomical Society.
"They have a really romantic feel to them as you look up because the Moon, which is normally pearly white, takes on this reddish colour."
He added that it was totally safe to observe and no protective filters were needed because the Moon would actually be less bright than during a normal full moon.
Mr Massey encouraged everyone to witness the "spectacular" event.
"It is like Mars suddenly coming a thousand times closer and just hanging there in the sky above you."
Lunar eclipses occur when the Sun, Earth and Moon are in a near-perfect line in space.
The Moon travels through the long cone-shaped shadow that the Earth casts in space. At totality, the only light reaching the Moon's surface at this point has been refracted through the Earth's atmosphere.
The appearance of the lunar surface varies according to how much dust is in the Earth's upper atmosphere. For example, following major volcanic eruptions, the Moon appears to be a deep red and almost invisible.
As there have not been any recent sizeable eruptions, astronomers are predicting that the Moon will be bathed in a bright orange light.
'Best in years'
Professional astronomers will also be enjoying the spectacle rather than worrying about any science, Mr Massey says.
KEY TIMES FOR ECLIPSE Moon enters penumbra: 2018 Moon enters umbra: 2130 Totality begins: 2244 Mid-eclipse: 2321 Totality ends: 2358 Moon leave umbra: 0111 Moon leaves penumbra: 0224 (All times are in GMT)
"It is not like a solar eclipse where you get to see the outer atmosphere of the sun," explained Mr Massey.
"There were some people in the past who measured how different parts of the Moon cooled down as the Earth's shadow passed over it, but I doubt much of that work is going on now."
Robin Scagell, from the Society for Popular Astronomy, was hopeful that the event will be the "best in years".
"If the clouds stay away, it will be fascinating to watch the Moon's graceful movement through the shadow of the Earth," he said.
The last total eclipse visible from the UK was back in May 2004, but it was obscured by cloudy skies.
After Saturday's eclipse, the next to be seen over western Europe will take place on 21 February 2008, but in the middle of the night between 0300 GMT and 0400 GMT.
Story from BBC NEWS: news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/sci/tech/6411991.stm
Published: 2007/03/02 16:54:19 GMT
According to astronomers a Lunar eclipse is due to take place tomorrow (3rd March) insha'Allah, the time is reported to be from 21:30 onwards and will last about 2 � hours. Of course this time is an approximation and the eclipse may take place plus/minus a few minutes or so as the time is only a estimation. Rabbil 'Alameen knows best.
Partial Eclipse Begins: 21:30:22 GMT Total Eclipse Begins: 22:44:13 GMT Greatest Eclipse: 23:20:56 GMT Total Eclipse Ends: 23:57:37 GMT Partial Eclipse Ends: 01:11:28 GMT
Just a brief explanation on what exactly a lunar eclipse is. Basically a Lunar eclipse is when the rays from the sun to the moon are blocked by the earth, so in theory the moon shouldn't reflect any light back to the earth as it doesn't receive any sunlight.
So a lunar eclipse is when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, so no sunlight directly reaches the lunar surface. Even so, the Moon may glow with an eerie coppery light in the night sky, because some sunlight is refracted through the atmosphere all around Earth's circumference, and some of this reddened light faintly illuminates the Moon.
As Muslims we recognise that everything in the heavens and on earth is created and sustained by the Lord of the universe, Allah Almighty. Throughout the Qur'an, people are encouraged to look around them, observe and reflect on the beauties and wonders of the natural world - as signs of Allah's majesty.
"Allah is He, who created the sun, the moon, and the stars -- (all) governed by laws under His commandment." Qur'an 7:54
"It is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon. All (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its orbit." Qur'an 21:33
"The sun and the moon follow courses exactly computed." Qur'an 55:05
At a time of a solar or lunar eclipse, there is a recommended prayer, salatul-kusuf that is performed by in congregation.
The Prophet's s.a.w's ways were:
During the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), there was a solar eclipse on the day that his son Ibrahim died. Some superstitious people said that the sun eclipsed because of the young child's death and the Prophet's sadness on that day. The Prophet corrected their understanding:
Narrated Al-Mughira bin Shu'ba: On the day of Ibrahim's death, the sun eclipsed and the people said that the eclipse was due to the death of Ibrahim (the son of the Prophet). Allah's Apostle said, "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah. They do not eclipse because of someone's death or life. So when you see them, invoke Allah and pray till the eclipse is clear."
Reasons that Muslims should be humble before Allah during an eclipse
- An eclipse is a sign of the majesty and power of Allah.
Narrated Abu Masud: The Prophet said, "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of the death of someone from the people but they are two signs amongst the signs of Allah. When you see them, stand up and pray."
- An eclipse can cause people to become frightened. When frightened, Muslims turn to Allah for patience and perseverance.
Narrated Abu Bakr: Allah's Apostle said: "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah and they do not eclipse because of the death of someone, but Allah frightens His devotees with them."
- An eclipse is a reminder of the Day of Judgment.
Narrated Abu Musa: The sun eclipsed and the Prophet got up, being afraid that it might be the Hour (i.e. Day of Judgment). He went to the Mosque and offered a prayer with the longest Qiyam, bowing and prostration that I had ever seen him doing. Then he said, "These signs which Allah sends do not occur because of the life or death of somebody, but Allah makes His worshipers afraid by them. So when you see anything thereof, proceed to remember Allah, invoke Him and ask for His forgiveness."
How the Prayer is Performed: [/color]
- The eclipse prayer is offered in congregation.
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr: When the sun eclipsed in the life-time of Allah's Apostle an announcement was made that a prayer was to be offered in congregation.
- The eclipse prayer is two rakats (cycles of prayer).
Narrated Abu Bakr: In the life-time of the Prophet the sun eclipsed and then he offered a two Rakat prayer.
- Each rakat of the eclipse prayer has two bowings and two prostrations (for a total of four).
Narrated Aisha: The Prophet led us and performed four bowings in two Rakat during the solar eclipse, and the first Raka was longer.
Narrated 'Aisha:[color="#FF8C00"] In the life-time of Allah's Apostle, the sun eclipsed, so he led the people in prayer, and stood up and performed a long Qiyam, then bowed for a long while. He stood up again and performed a long Qiyam but this time the period of standing was shorter than the first. He bowed again for a long time but shorter than the first one, then he prostrated and prolonged the prostration. He did the same in the second Raka as he did in the first and then finished the prayer; by then the sun (eclipse) had cleared. He delivered the Khutba (sermon) and after praising and glorifying Allah he said, "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse on the death or life of anyone. So when you see the eclipse, remember Allah and say Takbir, pray and give Sadaqa (charity)."
In modern times, superstitions and fear surrounding solar and lunar eclipses have diminished. However, Muslims continue the ettiquettes of praying during an eclipse, as a reminder that Allah Alone has power over all things, in the heavens and on earth.
The eclipse can look like any of the following pics, or it may even appear differently to these previous eclipses, Rabbil 'alameen knows best.
In modern times, superstitions and fear surrounding solar and lunar eclipses have diminished. However, Muslims continue the tradition of praying during an eclipse, as a reminder that Allah Alone has power over all things, in the heavens and on earth.
The eclipse can look like any of the following pics, or it may even appear differently to these previous eclipses, Rabbil 'alameen knows best.
Tradition or sunnah?
tradition
noun [C or U]
I believe that the word tradition is used here from a non-muslim's perspective / choice of vocabulary, but in actuality, by definition is synonymous with our term 'sunnah' which is understood to mean the way in which the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) acted and which the Muslims have strove to imitate since then.
I apologise if this is an erroneous understanding on my part and am, as ever, open to correction. In shaa Allah.
Fee amaanillah
wasalam
bit late.....but i went to a talk on kusoof by Shiekh Sulaiman Ghani yesterday - he was saying that according to Imams Abu Hanifa and Malik Rahimahumallah salatul jamaa'ah is only for kusoof ashams - solar eclipse, and not for lunar eclipse - thuis indiviual prayers are done in the latter.
However, Imam Shafie Rahimahullah agreed with salatul jamaa'ah during lunar and solar eclipse.
Nonetheless, Shiekh said if a Maliki or Hanafi did salatul jamaa'ah yesterday at any musjid, there is no harm in that InshAllah.
And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best!
As salamu alaikum
Allahu Musta'an
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
Please wait...
