Endless Blessings of Salat Al Kusuf on Eclipse,Chandra Grahan ,Suraj Grahan

Endless Blessings of Salat Al Kusuf on Eclipse,Chandra Grahan ,Suraj Grahan

“[He created] the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars, subjugated to His command”

(al-A’raf: 54)
About the Solar Eclipse
Allah جل جلاله causes natural phenomena at different occasions to remind His slaves of Him and to remove the rust
of negligence collected in their hearts and minds. The Sun and the Moon are two great signs of Allah جل جلاله‘s
power and His Rububiyyah (lordship and control over all things).
In Arabic, a solar eclipse is known as kusoof and the lunar eclipse as khusoof. Both terms are however used
interchangeably.

For a believer, these events are clear signs of Allah جل جلاله‘s infinite power. It proves the incapability and
helplessness of all creation before Allah. They are deprived of natural light for a duration of time and are
completely unable to do anything about it. This is a way to turn their attention towards Allah جل جلاله‘s majesty,
might, and power and away from the weak and frail universe they live in.

400 years ago,the desert sun was shining brightly when all of a sudden, darkness gathered (Chandra Grahan) in the middle of the day. The sun could no longer be seen. It was a solar eclipse.
What did the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) do? What did the Sahabah do?
Did they all gather together to ‘ witness this spectacular phenomenon’?…… so that they can ‘enjoy’ these few moments together?….. to be ‘entertained’ by the afternoon sky, laughing, joking, having a good time???
NO.
What did they do at the time of the eclipse??

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) rushed to the Masjid, gathered all the Sahaabah and prayed. They humbled themselves to the Lord of the worlds and prayed a special prayer called Salaat al-Kusoof. They were bowing and prostrating, beseeching Allaah to forgive them, asking for His Mercy, hoping for His forgiveness. They gave in charity and hastened to do other good deeds.

WHY? Weren’t they impressed by this awesome phenomenon?
Sure they were….but in a different way.
The eclipse was a sign, among the signs of Allaah, that reminded them of the Majesty, the Supremacy, the Ultimate Power of Allaah over all things.

“And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allaah Who created them, if you (really) worship Him” (Surah Fussilat: 37)

And the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) 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.” (Bukhaari)

The eclipse (Suraj Grahan or Chandra Grahan) was a reminder for them of a Day not so far away…..a Day that mankind would have to face when the sun would lose its light and the moon would be eclipsed, the stars would fall and there will be no place to flee.

Narrated Abu Musa: “The sun eclipsed and the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) got up, being afraid that it might be the Hour (Day of Judgment). He went to the Masjid 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.” (Bukhaari, Muslim)

They were afraid that the eclipse might be a warning from Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala, a precursor to an affliction, such as famine, disease, etc., by means of which Allaah makes His slaves afraid. So they turned to Allaah at this time of fear, making du’aa’ and seeking His forgiveness, hoping it will remove the cause of His Wrath. They remembered what Allaah said in His Book:

“And We sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid (of destruction)” [al-Israa’ 17:39]

The four Sunni schools observe: The solar- and lunar- eclipse prayer (Salat al Kusuf) is an emphasized sunnah, but not wajib. The Imamis state: It is obligatory for every mukallaf (sane mature person). There are Endless blessings of Salat al Kusuf.

It does not have a special form in the opinion of the Hanafis; rather it is to be performed in two rak’ahs like a nafilah prayer, each rak’ah comprising a single qiyam and ruku’. The musalli is free to perform it in two, four, or more rak’ahs.

According to the Hanbalis, Shafi’is and Malikis, it has two rak’ahs, with each rak’ah having two qiyams and two ruku’s. After the takbirat al-ihram, al-Fatihah and another surah will be recited, followed by ruku’: After rising from the ruku’al-Fatihah and another surah will be recited, followed by ruku’ and sujud. Then standing up for the second rak’ah, it will be performed like the first, and the salat completed. It is also valid to perform it in the manner of a nafilah salat.

There is consensus that it can be performed singly as well as in jama’ah, except that the Hanafis observe regarding the lunar eclipse prayer: It has not been enacted for jama’ah, and has to be performed singly, at home.

As to its time, all the schools excepting the Malikis concur that it begins and ends with the eclipse. The Malikis say: Its time begins when the sun is at a spear’s height above the horizon and continues until noon.

The Hanafis and the Malikis say: A two-rak’ah salat is recommended at the time of any fearsome incident, such as an earthquake, thunderbolt, unusual darkness, epidemic, etc.

According to the Hanbalis, it is recommended only for earthquakes. The schools concur that this salat does not have an adhan and Iqamah, though an announcer will call out “al-salat” three times according to the Imamis, and “al-salat jami’ah” according to the other schools.

The Imamis observe: The salat is wajib upon every individual during solar and lunar eclipses, earthquakes, and on the occurrence of all unsettling celestial phenomena such as the sky’s darkening or becoming extraordinarily red, strong winds, big sounds, etc.

If performed in jama’ah, the imam will recite only the surahs on behalf of those following him, just as in the daily prayers.The time for performing the salat for solar and lunar eclipses is the period of their occurrence, and one who does not perform them at that time will perform them later as qada’.

There is no specific time for salats to be performed consequent to earthquakes and similar fearsome incidents; rather, it is wajib to perform these salats as soon as they occur, though in the event of delay they can be performed as ada’ as long as one is alive.

Its mode of performance is that after takbirat al-ihram, al-Fatihah and another surah are recited, followed by ruku’. Upon rising from the ruku’, al-Fatihah and a surah will be repeated, followed again by ruku’. This will continue until five ruku’s are performed, and they will be followed by two sajdahs. On standing up for the second rak’ah, al-Fatihah and another surah will be recited, followed by a ruku’; this will be repeated till five ruku’s are performed in the second rak’ah as well. Then will follow two sajdahs, tashahhud, and tasleem.

Thus altogether there are ten ruku’s, and every five of them is followed by two sajdahs, both in the first and the second rak’ahs.