3/5. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1182 — Long Eclipse Prayer and Dua
Whoever Said That It Should Be Prayed With Four Rak'ahs
Solar Eclipse Prayer Hadith: Long Recitation, Bowing, and Dua
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1182
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1182
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْفُرَاتِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ الرَّازِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الرَّازِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الرَّازِيِّ، قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَحُدِّثْتُ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ الرَّازِيُّ، - وَهَذَا لَفْظُهُ وَهُوَ أَتَمُّ - عَنِ الرَّبِيعِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْعَالِيَةِ، عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، قَالَ انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَإِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلَّى بِهِمْ فَقَرَأَ بِسُورَةٍ مِنَ الطُّوَلِ وَرَكَعَ خَمْسَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَسَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَامَ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَرَأَ سُورَةً مِنَ الطُّوَلِ وَرَكَعَ خَمْسَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَسَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ كَمَا هُوَ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ يَدْعُو حَتَّى انْجَلَى كُسُوفُهَا .
Ubayy bin Ka'b Narrated from:
An eclipse of the sun took place in the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) led them in prayer. He recited one of the long surahs, bowing five times and prostrating himself twice. He then stood up for the second rak'ah, recited one of the long surahs, bowed five times, prostrated himself twice, then sat where he was facing the qiblah and made the supplication till the eclipse was over.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1182In-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 22English translation : Book 3, Hadith 1178
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1182
This solar eclipse prayer hadith shows a long act of worship during the eclipse. Ubayy b. Ka'b says the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم led the people in prayer. He recited from one of the long surahs, bowed five times, and made two prostrations. Then he stood for the second rak'ah and did the same: a long recitation, five bowings, and two prostrations. After that, he sat facing the qiblah and made dua until the eclipse was over. The focus of this narration is not a short response, but steady prayer and supplication. It teaches that the sight of an eclipse moved the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the people toward worship until the sign passed.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم led the people in prayer during the eclipse.
- The narration mentions long Qur'an recitation in both rak'ahs.
- He faced the qiblah and made supplication until the eclipse ended.
- The hadith connects eclipse prayer with patient worship.
