3/5. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1185 — Pray When Signs Appear
Whoever Said That It Should Be Prayed With Four Rak'ahs
Solar Eclipse Prayer Hadith: Pray When You See Allah’s Signs
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1185
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1185
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ قَبِيصَةَ الْهِلاَلِيِّ، قَالَ كُسِفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَخَرَجَ فَزِعًا يَجُرُّ ثَوْبَهُ وَأَنَا مَعَهُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَأَطَالَ فِيهِمَا الْقِيَامَ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ وَانْجَلَتْ فَقَالَ " إِنَّمَا هَذِهِ الآيَاتُ يُخَوِّفُ اللَّهُ بِهَا فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهَا فَصَلُّوا كَأَحْدَثِ صَلاَةٍ صَلَّيْتُمُوهَا مِنَ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ " .
Qabisah Al-Hilali Narrated from:
There was an eclipse of the sun in the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He came out bewildered pulling his garment, and I was in his company at Medina. He prayed two rak'ahs and stood for a long time in them. He then departed and the sun became bright. He then said: There are the signs by means of which Allah, the Exalted, produces dread (in His servants). When you see anything of this nature, then pray as you are praying a fresh obligatory prayer.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1185In-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 25English translation : Book 3, Hadith 1181
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1185
This hadith about eclipse prayer gives both an action and a clear teaching. Qabisah al-Hilali says a solar eclipse happened in the time of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came out in a startled state, pulling his garment, and prayed two rak'ahs with long standing. When he finished, the sun became bright. Then he explained that these are signs by which Allah, the Exalted, creates fear in His servants. He told the people that when they see anything like this, they should pray as they would pray a newly performed obligatory prayer. The message is direct: a frightening sign should turn the heart toward salah, not careless talk or delay.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم responded to the eclipse by prayer.
- The prayer included two rak'ahs with long standing.
- The hadith calls such events signs from Allah.
- The instruction given here is to pray when such signs are seen.
