3/5. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1179 — Long Standing in Eclipse Prayer
Whoever Said That It Should Be Prayed With Four Rak'ahs
Eclipse Prayer Hadith: Long Standing, Bowing, and Prostration
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1179
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1179
حَدَّثَنَا مُؤَمَّلُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ كُسِفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي يَوْمٍ شَدِيدِ الْحَرِّ فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِأَصْحَابِهِ فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ حَتَّى جَعَلُوا يَخِرُّونَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَأَطَالَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَأَطَالَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَنَعَ نَحْوًا مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَكَانَ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَأَرْبَعَ سَجَدَاتٍ . وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ .
Jabir Narrated from:
There was an eclipse of the sun in the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a hot day. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led his Companions in prayer and prolonged the standing until the people began to fall down. He then bowed and prolonged it; then he raised his head and prolonged (the stay); then he bowed and prolonged it; then he raised his head and prolonged (the stay); then he made two prostrations and then stood up; then he did in the same manner. He thus performed four bowings and four prostrations. Then the narrator narrated the rest of the tradition.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1179In-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 19English translation : Book 3, Hadith 1175
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1179
This eclipse prayer hadith from Jabir describes a solar eclipse on a very hot day. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم led his Companions in prayer and made the standing long until people began to fall down. He then bowed for a long time, rose and remained standing, bowed again for a long time, rose again, then made two prostrations. He stood and did in the same manner again, making four bowings and four prostrations in total. For readers searching how eclipse prayer is prayed, this report highlights length, seriousness, and repeated bowing. It shows that the eclipse prayer was treated as a serious act of worship.
What we learn from this hadith
- The eclipse prayer happened on a very hot day.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prolonged the standing and bowing.
- The report describes four bowings and four prostrations.
- The Companions prayed behind him during the eclipse.
