3/5. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1184 — Silent Long Eclipse Prayer
Whoever Said That It Should Be Prayed With Four Rak'ahs
Eclipse Prayer Hadith: Long Silent Standing and Praise of Allah
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1184
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1184
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَسْوَدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ، حَدَّثَنِي ثَعْلَبَةُ بْنُ عِبَادٍ الْعَبْدِيُّ، مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ أَنَّهُ شَهِدَ خُطْبَةً يَوْمًا لِسَمُرَةَ بْنِ جُنْدُبٍ قَالَ قَالَ سَمُرَةُ بَيْنَمَا أَنَا وَغُلاَمٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ نَرْمِي غَرَضَيْنِ لَنَا حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتِ الشَّمْسُ قِيدَ رُمْحَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةٍ فِي عَيْنِ النَّاظِرِ مِنَ الأُفُقِ اسْوَدَّتْ حَتَّى آضَتْ كَأَنَّهَا تَنُّومَةٌ فَقَالَ أَحَدُنَا لِصَاحِبِهِ انْطَلِقْ بِنَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَوَاللَّهِ لَيُحْدِثَنَّ شَأْنُ هَذِهِ الشَّمْسِ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي أُمَّتِهِ حَدَثًا قَالَ فَدَفَعْنَا فَإِذَا هُوَ بَارِزٌ فَاسْتَقْدَمَ فَصَلَّى فَقَامَ بِنَا كَأَطْوَلِ مَا قَامَ بِنَا فِي صَلاَةٍ قَطُّ لاَ نَسْمَعُ لَهُ صَوْتًا قَالَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ بِنَا كَأَطْوَلِ مَا رَكَعَ بِنَا فِي صَلاَةٍ قَطُّ لاَ نَسْمَعُ لَهُ صَوْتًا ثُمَّ سَجَدَ بِنَا كَأَطْوَلِ مَا سَجَدَ بِنَا فِي صَلاَةٍ قَطُّ لاَ نَسْمَعُ لَهُ صَوْتًا . ثُمَّ فَعَلَ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الأُخْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَوَافَقَ تَجَلِّي الشَّمْسِ جُلُوسَهُ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ قَالَ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَشَهِدَ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَشَهِدَ أَنَّهُ عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ ثُمَّ سَاقَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ خُطْبَةَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Samura b. Jundub Narrated from:
When, a boy from the Ansar and I were shooting (arrows) towards two of our targets, the sun was sighted by the people at the height of two or three lances above the horizon. It became black like the black herb called tannumah. One of us said to his companion: Let us go to the mosque; by Allah, this incident of the sun will surely bring something new in the community of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).As we reached it, we suddenly saw that he (the Prophet) had already come out (of his house). He stepped forward for a long time as much as he could do so in the prayer. But we did not hear his voice. He then performed a bowing and prolonged it as much as he could do in the prayer. But we did not hear his voice. He then prostrated himself with us and prolonged it which he never did in the prayer before. But we did not hear his voice.He then did similarly in the second rak'ah. The sun became bright when he sat after the second rak'ah. Then he uttered the salutation. He then stood up, praised Allah, and extolled Him, and testified that there was no god but Allah and testified that he was His servant and apostle. Ahmad ibn Yunus then narrated the address of the Prophet (ﷺ).
[1] Tannūmah : It is either a tree or a plant whose leaves and or fruits are dark in color or black.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1184In-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 24English translation : Book 3, Hadith 1180
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1184
This eclipse prayer hadith describes a strong scene. Samurah ibn Jundub says he and another boy were shooting arrows when the sun darkened and looked black. They went to the mosque and found the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم already out. He led a very long prayer. The narrator says they did not hear his voice during the standing, bowing, or prostration. He did the same in the second rak'ah. The sun became bright when he sat after the second rak'ah. After the salutation, he stood, praised Allah, extolled Him, and testified to Allah’s oneness and to his own mission as Allah’s servant and Messenger. The report highlights prayer, patience, and praise.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Companions went to the mosque when the sun darkened.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed with very long standing, bowing, and prostration.
- The narrator says they did not hear his voice in that prayer.
- After the prayer, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم praised Allah and testified to faith.
