3/4. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1177 — Hasten to Prayer During Eclipse
The Eclipse (Al-Kusuf) Prayer
Eclipse Prayer Hadith: The Sun and Moon Are Signs of Allah
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1177
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1177
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي مَنْ، أُصَدِّقُ وَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ عَائِشَةَ قَالَ كُسِفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قِيَامًا شَدِيدًا يَقُومُ بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ يَرْكَعُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ ثُمَّ يَرْكَعُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ ثُمَّ يَرْكَعُ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ ثَلاَثُ رَكَعَاتٍ يَرْكَعُ الثَّالِثَةَ ثُمَّ يَسْجُدُ حَتَّى إِنَّ رِجَالاً يَوْمَئِذٍ لَيُغْشَى عَلَيْهِمْ مِمَّا قَامَ بِهِمْ حَتَّى إِنَّ سِجَالَ الْمَاءِ لَتُصَبُّ عَلَيْهِمْ يَقُولُ إِذَا رَكَعَ " اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ " . وَإِذَا رَفَعَ " سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ " . حَتَّى تَجَلَّتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لاَ يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ وَلَكِنَّهُمَا آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُخَوِّفُ بِهِمَا عِبَادَهُ فَإِذَا كُسِفَا فَافْزَعُوا إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
There was an eclipse of the sun in the time of the Prophet (ﷺ). The Prophet stood for a long time, accompanied by the people. He then bowed, then raised his head, then he bowed and then he raised his head, and again he bowed and prayed two rak'ahs of prayer. In each rak'ah he bowed three times. After bowing for the third time he prostrated himself.He stood for such a long time that some people became unconscious on that occasion and buckets of water had to be poured on them. When he bowed, he said, Allah is most great; and when he raised his head, he said, Allah listens to him who praises Him, till the sun became bright.then he said: The sun and the moon are not eclipsed on account of anyone's death or on account of anyone's birth, but they are two of Allah's signs, He produces dread in His servants by means of them. When they are eclipsed, hasten to prayer
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1177In-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 17English translation : Book 3, Hadith 1173
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1177
This eclipse prayer hadith reports a solar eclipse during the time of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. He stood with the people for a long time, bowed, rose, bowed again, rose again, and bowed again in each rak'ah before prostrating. The standing was so long that some people became unconscious and water was poured on them. After the sun became bright, he taught that the sun and moon are not eclipsed because of anyone's death or birth. They are two signs of Allah, and when they are eclipsed, people should hasten to prayer. For readers searching sun eclipse hadith, the main teaching is to respond with prayer, not superstition.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم led a long prayer during the solar eclipse.
- The report describes three bowings in each rak'ah.
- He rejected linking eclipses to anyone's death or birth.
- He taught people to hasten to prayer during an eclipse.
