Solāh al-Kasuf

Solātul Kasuf and Khusuf

Solātul Kasuf

(The Eclipse Solāh)

Question: Please enlighten me on Solātul Kasuf (The Eclipse Prayer)?

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-‘ālamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam is His Messenger.

Solātul Kasuf, prayer of the solar and lunar eclipse. The scholars agree that the Solātul Kasuf is a Sunnah mu'akkadah, a stressed one, which is to be performed by both men and women. It is best to pray it in congregation although the congregation is not a condition for it. The people are called to it by announcing as-Solātu Jami'ah (prayer in congregation). 

The majority of the scholars hold that it is to consist of two raka'at and that in every raka'ah one is to perform two bowings (ruku') instead of the customary one. 

'Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha) narrated: "There was a solar eclipse during the time of the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) and the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) went to the mosque, and he (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) stood and made the takbir, and he (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam)  put the people in rows behind him, and Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) made a lengthy recital during the Salāh. 

Next, Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) made the takbir and made a long ruku', but it was not as long as the recital. Following that, he (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) raised his head, saying: 'Allāh hears him who praises Him. And to You, our Lord, belongs the praise.' 

Afterward, Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) stood and made another long recital but it was shorter than the first one. Again, Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) made the takbir and made a ruku' that was shorter than the first one. Then, again he (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: 'Allāh hears him who praises Him. And to You, our Lord, belongs the praise.' 

After this, Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) made the Sujud (Prostration). 

Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) did the same in the next raka`ah and finished four ruku’ and four sujud. The sun appeared again before he finished. 

Finally, Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) stood and addressed the people and praised Allāh as He deserves it and said: 'The sun and the moon are two signs from among Allāh's signs and there is no eclipse due to someone's death or life. If you see it occurring, hurries to observe solāh.'" 

[Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim]. 

Ibn 'Abbas (radiyallāhu‘anhu)  said: "There was a solar eclipse during the life time of the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) and he performed the solat with a long standing, similar to what it takes to recite al-Baqārah.Then, Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) made a long ruku'. 

After which, Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) stood and made another long recital but shorter than the first one. Again he (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) went into ruku', but for a shorter time than in the first one. Following this, Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) made sajdah [twice]. 

Next, Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) made another long standing (qiyam) which was also not as long as the first. After that, he (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) made another lengthy ruku' but it was not as long as the first one. Again, Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) made another long qiyam [and recital] but it was not as long as the first one. After which, Rasūlullāh made another lengthy ruku' but it was not as long as the previous one. 

Following this, Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) went into sajdah [and so on]. When he (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) had finished, the sun had appeared. 

Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) concluded his prayer and said: 'The sun and the moon are two signs from among the signs of Allāh, and there is no eclipse due to the death or life of anyone. If you see it, make remembrance of Allāh.'"

[Recorded by Imam Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

In grading these reports, Ibn Abdul Barr (rahimahullāh) says: "These two hadith are the most authentic reports on this topic." 

Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullāh) observes: "The authentic, clear, and prepondering Sunnah concerning Salātul Kasuf is that the ruku' is to be repeated [twice] in every raka'ah. This is based on the hadith from 'Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha), Abdullah Ibn 'Abbas, Jabir ibn Abdullah, Ubayy ibn Ka‘ab, 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas, and Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (radiyallāhu`anhum). They all report that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) repeated the ruku' in one raka'ah. Those who mention the repeating of the ruku' are more in number, weightier, and closer to the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) than those who do not mention it." 

This is the opinion held by Mālik, Ash-Shāfi'ie, and Ahmad. 

Abu Hanifah (rahimahullāh) is of the opinion that Solātul Kasuf consists of two raka‘at, similar to Solātul 'Eid and Jumu'ah, based on the hadith of An-Nu`man ibn Bashir (radiyallāhu`anhu) who says: "The Messenger of Allāh prayed the Salātul Kasuf with us like one of your prayers. He went into ruku' and performed sajdah, praying two raka`at by two raka`at, and supplicated to Allāh until the sun reappeared clearly again."

In the hadith from Qabsah al-Hillali (radiyallāhu`anhu), the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: "If you see that [i.e., an eclipse], pray as you pray the obligatory prayer." This is related by Ahmad and an-Nasā'ie.

 

The reciting of al-Fātihah is obligatory in each raka`ah, and one may recite whatever one wishes to, after Al-Fatihah. It is allowed to make the recital audible or silent, but al-Bukhari says: "Audible recital is more proper.” 

The time for observing Solat Al-Kasuf is from the beginning of the eclipse until the eclipse finishes. 

Solat Khusuf (Lunar Eclipse) is similar to that of the solar eclipse. 

Al-Hassan al-Basri (radiyallāhu`anhu) reports: "There was a solar eclipse and Ibn 'Abbas (radiyallāhu‘anhu), the governor of Basrah, went out and prayed two raka'at with two ruku' in each raka'ah. Then, he mounted his mount and said: 'I prayed as I have seen the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) praying.'" This is related by ash-Shāfi'ie in his Musnad. It is preferred to make the takbir, supplications, to give charity, and ask Allāh for forgiveness during the eclipse 

`Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha) narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: "The sun and the moon are two signs from among Allāh's signs and there is no eclipse due to the life or death of anyone. If you see that [an eclipse] supplicates to Allāh, extol His greatness, give charity and pray."

 

[Recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (radiyallāhu`anhu) narrated that there was a solar eclipse and the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: "If you see something of this nature, rush to the remembrance of Allāh, supplicating Him and asking His forgiveness." 

[Recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

And Allāh Almighty Knows best.

[Via Islam Web (Fatwa No: 81224), Jumādil-Awal 17, 1420 (29-8-1999)]